Mack Brown names Bob Stoops, Steve Spurrier among his biggest coaching rivals

Mack Brown had an intriguing answer when he was asked about his biggest coaching rivals during his legendary career.

The North Carolina head coach is still going strong at 72 years old, but has a head coaching career spanning nearly four decades. Leading programs like Tulane, UNC twice and Texas can bring you face to face with all sorts of characters.

Bob Stoops and Steve Spurrier seemingly stood out for Brown.

I think that the two were Coach Stoops and Coach Spurrier,” Brown said on College Sports Radio on Sirius XM. “And they grew up together and we’re just different. They would come out and say anything. And they want to stir the pot and I’ve always been, I don’t dislike the opponent, I coached at Oklahoma, I love Coach (Barry) Switzer. I mean, why would I hate the players? I love the players and it’s the same thing now with NC State.

“Everybody’s mad at me because I like the kids at NC State, they play hard. They’re like ‘he’s not supposed to say that.’ No, I don’t hate kids. I love kids that play. So it’s whether they like it or not. I love kids. I love coaches. Bob did a great job. Steve did an unbelievable job.” 

Brown regularly coached against Stoops when the two were at Texas and Oklahoma, respectively. He didn’t cross over as much with Spurrier, outside of being conference foes in 1988 and ‘89 when Spurrier coached Duke.

Spurrier beat Brown twice when the two were ACC coaches: a 35-29 win for Duke and an absolute blowout in 1989.

“And Steve ran it up on us, 41-0, here once,” Brown said. “He had reverses and double passes. Had a tight end kick an extra point … (But) I like Bob and I like Steve. You don’t just hate coaches.”

Brown did later acknowledge he would’ve run it up against Spurrier if he had the chance. Unfortunately, that type of football theater won’t happen.

Since returning to North Carolina in 2019, Brown saw some success with the Tar Heels. He’s 38-27 in the last five seasons and 107-73-1 overall at UNC.

In total, Brown is 282-149-1 as a head coach, winning the national championship with Texas during the 2005 season and got back to the title game in 2009.

During this second stint with UNC, the Tar Heels haven’t won double digit games, winning nine in 2022, but Brown led them to the postseason each year.