Legendary coach Mack Brown’s second tenure with North Carolina football is coming to an end. The university announced Tuesday that Brown would be fired on the sixth day of his second season with the Tar Heels, after he led the team to a 44-32 record with five bowl appearances (four losses). UNC is currently 6-5 (3-4 SEC) with one regular season game remaining. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz first reported the news of Brown’s firing on Tuesday.
“This wasn’t the perfect time or way I envisioned going out, but there’s never a perfect time,” Brown said in a statement. “I spent 16 seasons at North Carolina and will always cherish the memories and relationships that Sally and I developed while serving as head coach. We have coached some great young men and will continue to cherish them.” I had the opportunity to coach and coach the team, and I’m going to miss it.”I look forward to that opportunity as I work to support the players and coaches leading up to Saturday’s game against North Carolina State. I want to do everything I can to give them the best chance to win. On Saturday, fans will gather for the same. ”
The 2024 season was Brown’s second season with the Tar Heels and his sixth since coming out of retirement after a five-year absence. The storied former Texas coach took over a program that struggled to just five wins in the 2017 and 2018 seasons combined while sitting at the bottom of the ACC.
UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said, “Mack Brown has won more games than any football coach in UNC history, and we are proud of what he has done for Carolina football and our university. “I am deeply grateful for everything that has happened,” he said, “over the past six seasons and in his second campaign.” AT CHAPEL HILL — He led our team to six bowl berths, including the Orange Bowl, while coaching 18 NFL draft picks. He and his wife, Sally, have done a great job supporting the Carolina community, hosting popular events such as the Women’s Day Clinic while raising money for UNC Children’s Hospital. Both players have done an outstanding job leading our program through incredibly difficult times, including the tragic loss of wide receiver Tyree Craft this season.
Mack Brown fired by UNC: What to read
“Coach Brown has led the Carolina football program back into the national conversation as he improves the program’s facilities, significantly expands the size of his staff, invests in payroll, and strengthens his nutrition and strength and conditioning programs. He is also an avid fundraiser and will strengthen the Soccer Fund while also supporting other sports programs.
“We thank Coach Brown for his dedication to Carolina and wish him, Sally, and their family the best.”
Brown quickly returned the Tar Heels to a respectable team, leading them to five straight bowl games behind star quarterbacks Sam Howell and Drake Maye. However, the 2024 season became an issue from the beginning.
After Maye was taken third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Brown turned his attention to quarterback Max Johnson, who has been on the move this season. However, Johnson suffered a season-ending injury during the Tar Heels’ season-opening win over Minnesota.
The defense soon began to struggle as well. After a 70-50 home loss to James Madison in Week 4, Brown reportedly told his players that if they had a problem with him, he would resign. In the end, he continued to coach as North Carolina’s on-field issues continued and speculation swirled about his future.
The 2024 season was a rocky end to Brown’s career, but he will be remembered as one of the best players of his generation.
Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018, five years after he resigned after ending a 16-year run at Texas that featured in the 2005 BCS National Championship. Brown had a 158-48 record (98-33 in the Big 12) with the Longhorns, winning Big 12 titles in 2005 and 2009.
He won the Bear Bryant Award for America’s Best Coach in 2005 and was named the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year in 2008. Brown has produced 144 NFL draft picks as a head coach, including 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams of Texas and three others. More Heisman finalists.
After starting his playing career as a running back at Vanderbilt in 1969, Brown transferred to Florida State University and then coached the Seminoles. His first head coaching opportunity came in 1983 at Appalachian State. He first took command at UNC after a three-year stint at Tulane from 1985 to 1987.
The Tar Heels went just 2-20 in their first two seasons in 1988 and 1989 as Brown laid the foundation for an ACC powerhouse. Before taking the Texas job, Brown led the Tar Heels to back-to-back 10-win seasons and top-10 rankings in 1996 and 1997, winning the Gator Bowl both years.
Texas was coming off a 4-7 season, but Brown quickly returned the program to respectability with three consecutive nine-win seasons. For nine consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2009, Texas won at least 10 games under Coach Brown. The highlight was a legendary 41-38 victory over USC in the BCS Championship Game, capping an undefeated 2005 streak.
The program slumped a bit from 2010 to 2013, posting a 30-21 record before Brown resigned and began working as an analyst for ESPN.
future in focus
Due to the University of North Carolina’s struggles on the field, recruiting has declined significantly. With less than two weeks until the early signing period, the 2025 recruiting class currently sits at No. 78 in the 247Sports Team Composite Recruiting Rankings.
This is lower than East Carolina, Toledo State, and Miami (Ohio). It also ranks second-lowest in the ACC behind Louisville. The Tar Heels have never finished outside of the top 50 in a recruiting class in the modern recruiting era.
Still, in the recruiting world, moving on from Brown is not without risk. North Carolina State holds a commitment from four-star quarterback Bryce Baker, the No. 13 signal caller in the 2025 class and a top-five player in North Carolina. Retaining Brown as signing day approaches is critical to the rest of the North Carolina staff and whoever takes over the job after Brown leaves.
The Tar Heels will have a fast-track recruiting schedule. Not only does early signing day (the day most potential players sign their national letters of intent) begin on December 4th, but the winter transfer window opens on December 9th.
It will be difficult to get a coach in place before the early signing period, especially since it will take place before the conference championship game. Whoever takes the job will need to work hard to maintain talent on the roster and bring in players that align with their philosophy and vision for the future.
