UNC fires head coach Mack Brown

Just a day later Mack Brown declared his intention to return there North Carolina The Tar Heels will fire their head coach for the 2025 season, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed.

“This season will be Mack Brown’s last as head football coach of the University of North Carolina,” a University of North Carolina press release said, according to multiple reports. Athletics director Bubba Cunningham informed Brown, who coached UNC from 1988 to 1997 and then returned to Chapel Hill in November 2018, on Monday that he will not be returning as head coach.

“Brown will coach the team in the season finale on Saturday NC State at Kenan Stadium; No decision has been made as to whether Brown will coach in a bowl game.”

There was certainly never a guarantee that the Tar Heels would want to bounce back with the legendary coach. They are currently 6-5 heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Wolfpack, and Brown is 73 and will turn 74 next August.

The surprise came after Brown addressed his future in Chapel Hill during a weekly press conference on Monday and was asked directly if he planned to return in 2025, to which he bluntly answered with a resounding yes. However, Brown admitted that he had not spoken to the people mentioned above Cunningham but his future.

North Carolina suffered a 41-21 loss Boston College last weekend, which ended a three-game winning streak for the Tar Heels. Brown also spoke Monday about why he continues to coach and what factors influenced his decision to return to the sidelines.

“At 73 you get asked questions every day. I mean, recruits have asked every day, every year, ‘How long are you going to do this?’ And I said I’ll do it as long as I’m happy, as long as I’m healthy and effective,” Brown explained. “I won’t think about retiring. I won’t talk about retirement. I didn’t change that for six years.

“I learned that from Texas. And there will be a morning when I get up and say, ‘You know what, someone else should run this team.’ They’re better at it than I am at this point.” And then I’ll do something else. But I have far too much going on to worry about next week. I’m trying to beat NC State.”

Unfortunately, it remains to be seen whether Mack Brown will now make it a career. Time will tell if this is the end of his coaching career or if North Carolina’s future former leader finds a new home in 2025.

Statement from North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham on firing Mack Brown:

Further, North Carolina released a statement after Bubba Cunningham informed Mack Brown of his firing on Monday and the news came to light on Tuesday.

“Mack Brown has won more games than any other football coach in UNC history, and we deeply appreciate everything he has done for Carolina football and our university,” Cunningham said in a news release. “Over the last six seasons – his second season in Chapel Hill – he has earned our team six bowl berths, including an Orange Bowl, while overseeing 18 NFL draft picks. He and his wife Sally have done an outstanding job supporting the Carolina community, including raising funds for UNC Children’s Hospital and hosting other popular events such as the Ladies Day Clinic. Both have provided great leadership for our program even through some incredibly difficult periods, including the tragic death of wide receiver Tylee Craft this season.

“Coach Brown has put the Carolina football program back in the national conversation by improving the program’s facilities, significantly increasing headcount, investing in salaries and strengthening our nutrition, strength and conditioning programs. He was also a dedicated fundraiser, strengthening the football foundation while supporting our other sports programs.

“We thank Coach Brown for his commitment to Carolina and wish him, Sally and their family all the best.”