Mack Brown explains offensive coordinator’s input on offensive line coach

North Carolina head coach Mack Brown made big changes to his coaching staff this season with a focus on the offense, leading the Tar Heels to add offensive line coach Jack Bicknell from Louisville. Among other moves, the addition brings a fresh emphasis to the offense which promises to update the look on the field.

During an offseason press conference, Mack Brown provided perspective on what role offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Phil Longo played in picking offensive line coach Jack Bicknell to join the staff.

“I hired a young person before I hired Phil to be the offensive (coordinator) when I first got here,” said Mack Brown. “And he left to go to Houston in the first month. And then coach Searels came available because coach Richt resigned at Miami. I’ve always wanted to hire people that I knew, and I had coach Searels for three years at Texas. I had not been involved with this offense before. I watched it, but I hadn’t coached it.

“It’s really critical if you can, to get somebody who believes in (the offensive scheme) and knows it. … Lonnie Galloway’s been in this offense, coach Porter’s been in this offense, coach Lilly hasn’t, but he’s really adjusted very quickly. But coach Longo talked to me about how much he loved coach Bicknell three years ago. That’s who he would’ve wanted to hire then, and I just went with somebody I had more familiarity with. … Every time it would come up, my mind would go right back to coach Bicknell. So it was an easy choice for me.”

Bicknell has also worked for SEC schools Auburn and Ole Miss in recent years after a stint with several NFL teams which included a Super Bowl championship.

Mack Brown on staff additions

The North Carolina Tar Heels are going to look very different on the field next season. A year after losing multiple offensive playmakers, UNC will now lose quarterback Sam Howell. But UNC’s changes extend further than just on the field, as Mack Brown has made multiple changes to his coaching staff.

“You always want to hire guys that have won,” Brown said on filling UNC’s staff with championship pedigree. “You always want to hire guys that believe in what you believe in. I love Jack (Bicknell)’s dad – Coach Bickell Sr. I mean he was one of those guys that I always looked up to at a young age. But coach Bicknell Sr. was one of the nicest, most generous, most giving guys that all of us looked up to.”