The University of North Carolina has decided to part ways with legendary head coach Mack Brown, confirming the news in an official statement on GoHeels.com. The statement revealed that this season will mark Brown’s final one as the head coach of the Tar Heels.
Although Brown, who returned to lead the team in 2018, will coach in the season finale against N.C. State, it remains unclear if he will continue to lead the team during their bowl game.
This announcement follows a recent statement from Brown in which he expressed no intention of retiring, despite a challenging season that has left the Tar Heels with a 6-5 record after eleven games. His remarks likely prompted the university to take action and part ways with the 73-year-old coach.
Bubba Cunningham, the Director of Athletics at UNC, expressed gratitude for Brown’s contributions, highlighting his record as the winningest coach in the program’s history. Over the past six years, Brown has led the team to six bowl games, including an Orange Bowl, and mentored 18 NFL draft picks. Cunningham also praised Brown’s leadership during difficult times, including the tragic loss of wide receiver Tylee Craft this season, and his work in improving the program’s facilities, staff, and fundraising efforts.
Brown’s coaching career began in 1973 as a student assistant at Florida State, and he went on to hold head coaching positions at Appalachian State, Tulane, and North Carolina before taking over at Texas in 1998. At Texas, Brown revitalized the Longhorns, winning 158 games and securing a National Championship in 2005. He stepped down from Texas after the 2013 season, but returned to UNC in 2018, guiding the team to a bowl game each year since.
With a career record of 288-154-1, including 113-78-1 at UNC, Brown will be remembered as one of the most personable and respected coaches in modern college football. Unfortunately, his career did not conclude on his own terms, as UNC seeks a new direction for its program in the rapidly evolving world of college football.