Mack Brown releases heartfelt statement after North Carolina announces firing

Mack Brown is officially out at North Carolina, and the 73-year-old head coach made it clear it wasn’t his decision.

“While this was not the perfect time and way in which I imagined going out, no time will ever be the perfect time,” Brown wrote in a statement released shortly after the decision was made official. “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.

“We’ve had the chance to coach and mentor some great young men, and we’ll miss having the opportunity to do that in the future,” Brown’s statement continued. “Moving forward, my total focus is on helping these players and coaches prepare for Saturday’s game against N.C. State and give them the best chance to win. We want to send these seniors our right and I hope our fans will show up Saturday to do the same.”

Brown leaves his second stint as the UNC head coach after six seasons, compiling 44-32 record in that span, including 27-22 in ACC play. Over 16 total seasons in Chapel Hill, Brown went 113-78-1 overall and 67-57-1 in the ACC. He’s expected to coach in Saturday’s rivalry game against N.C. State, but beyond that remains unclear.

UNC AD Bubba Cunningham announced the surprise move just one day after Brown made it clear he intended to return to Chapel Hill for the 2025 season during a Monday press conference.

“Yes,” Brown responded definitively to a question about his pending return. “You never talk to your Athletics Director until the year’s over. Everybody always does that. My total focus is on NC State. What an awful thing to be talking about me when we just played a bad game and need to beat State.”

A Statement from Mack Brown pic.twitter.com/cuC5DvBeH0

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) November 26, 2024

UNC AD Bubba Cunningham goes in different direction

As evidenced by Tuesday’s news, Cunningham had a different opinion on the future of the UNC football program.

“This season will be Mack Brown’s last as the University of North Carolina’s head football coach,” a press release from the University of North Carolina read. “Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham on Monday informed Brown, who coached UNC from 1988-97 and then returned to Chapel Hill in Nov., 2018, that he will not return as head coach. Brown will coach the team Saturday in its season finale against NC State at Kenan Stadium; a decision has not been reached on whether Brown will coach in a Bowl game.”

This surprising decision comes after the Tar Hells saw a three-game win streak snapped with a 41-21 loss to Boston College this past weekend.

Brown also spoke Monday about why he continues to coach, and what factored into his decision to return to the sidelines.

“When you’re 73 you’re asked every day. I mean recruits have asked every day, every year, ‘How long are you going to do this?’ And I’ve said I’ll do it as long as I’m happy, as long as I’m healthy and as long as I’m effective,” Brown said. “I’m not going to think about retiring. I’m not going to talk about retiring. I haven’t changed that for six years. 

“I learned that from Texas. And there will be a morning when I’ll get up and I’ll say, ‘You know what, somebody else should be leading this team. They’re better than I am at this at this point.’ And then I’ll go do something else. But I’ve got way too much to do to be worried about next week. I’m trying to beat NC State.”

Matt Connolly and Stephen Samra contributed to this report.