North Carolina to fire coach Brown after season

North Carolina will fire head coach Mack Brown after the 2024 season, the program announced Tuesday.

"Mack Brown has won more games than any football coach in UNC history, and we deeply appreciate all that he has done for Carolina football and our university," athletic director Bubba Cunningham said Tuesday in a statement.

"Coach Brown has led the Carolina football program back into the national conversation as we improved the program's facilities, significantly increased the size of the staff, invested in salaries, and bolstered our nutrition and strength and conditioning programs."

North Carolina has posted a 6-5 record and a 3-4 mark in conference games this year. Brown will coach the regular-season finale against NC State, but the program hasn't decided if he'll lead the team in a bowl game.

"While this was not the perfect time and way in which I imagined going out, no time will ever be the perfect time," Brown said, per ESPN's Andrea Adelson. "I've spent 16 seasons at North Carolina and will always cherish the memories and relationships Sally and I have built while serving as head coach."

Brown's coaching career began in 1985 with Tulane, but his first tenure with North Carolina ran from 1988-97. He joined Texas in 1998 and coached the Longhorns to a national title victory in 2005. Brown also led the Longhorns to a BCS National Championship appearance in 2009 before leaving the school in 2013. He spent several seasons without a head coaching job until rejoining UNC ahead of the 2019 campaign.

Brown said Monday that he planned to return in 2025 but added that he hadn't spoken with Cunningham about his future. The coach's desire to return appeared to contrast with his feelings earlier in the season when he reportedly considered retiring following a 70-50 loss to James Madison on Sept. 21.

The 73-year-old has compiled a 282-149-1 coaching record across 35 seasons.