The North Carolina Tar Heels may soon be in the market for a new head coach.
Mack Brown, currently the oldest coach in college football at 73, is widely expected to leave his role at the season’s end.
This season began with high hopes for Brown and the Tar Heels, but things took a downturn quickly.
North Carolina’s opening game saw starting quarterback Max Johnson sustain a season-ending injury, dealing a significant blow to the team’s offensive momentum.
Since then, the Tar Heels have struggled to find their footing on both sides of the ball and are now 4-4, fighting for bowl eligibility.
A 70-point defensive collapse against James Madison and a blown 20-point lead against in-state rival Duke have left fans and players frustrated.
ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel reports that the end is near for the legendary coach.
“The expectation in the industry is that Brown, who at 73 is the oldest coach in college football, figures out a way to exit gracefully,” Thamel wrote.
“The slump, combined with Brown’s age, portends a change coming in Chapel Hill. If and how that exit comes remains to be seen, but there have been enough signs of atrophy in the program that one more year for Brown is unlikely.
“There’s no one on staff for a direct handoff, so the situation would likely need to resolve itself in the next month or so for a smooth search and transition. There’s a bye week after the Florida State game on Nov. 2, where clarity could come.”
Brown, in his second stint with North Carolina after an initial run from 1988 to 1997, has amassed a 111-77 record with the program.
His leadership brought the Tar Heels to five consecutive bowl games in recent years, and despite a rocky season, the team still has a chance to continue that streak.
Despite setbacks, North Carolina has shown flashes of potential, including an impressive blowout victory over Virginia. At 4-4, the Tar Heels have a favorable path to reach a bowl game, needing only two more wins.
Tomorrow, they face a 1-7 Florida State team that has had an even more disappointing season.
Should they secure a victory there, North Carolina will face three teams with matching 4-4 records – Wake Forest, Boston College, and NC State – two of which are home games.
Brown is most well-known for his brilliant cameo on Friday Night Lights.
Of course I’m kidding. Brown’s successful tenure as head coach of the Texas Longhorns will be remembered in Austin forever.
He coached the Longhorns for 16 seasons and racked up an impressive 158-48 record. Most importantly, he guided Texas to the 2005 national title.
What are your thoughts on Brown’s legacy as a college football coach? … Is it indeed time for him to hang it up???
