Report: Mack Brown addresses North Carolina future amid report he considered retirement after JMU loss
North Carolina suffered a loss to James Madison on Saturday with one word in mind — embarrassing. The Group of Five program put up 70 points on the Tar Heels in what was a tough loss all around in Chapel Hill. In the long-storied career of head coach Mack Brown, certainly one of the lowest points.
Following the game, reports emerged saying Brown told the North Carolina locker room he would be stepping away from the program and resigning. He would leave after just four games with three wins under his belt in the 2024 season.
However, Brown contacted ESPN’s Chris Low not too long after, saying he would remain as North Carolina’s head coach. However, if things are not fixed in the immediate future changes could occur.
“Mack Brown told ESPN on Saturday he’s not resigning and ‘Will be back at work’ Sunday following an embarrassing 70-50 loss to James Madison,” Low said via X. “He said it was an emotional locker room and told the team he blamed himself and would step away if he couldn’t get things straightened out.”
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Brown took some time off after leaving the Texas job but took back over at North Carolina ahead of the 2019 season. It’s his second stint with the Tar Heels after 10 years of rebuilding the program. A similar task was in hand after winning just five games in two seasons under Larry Fedora.
There has been success, making five straight bowl games — something we have not seen from UNC since Brown’s first tenure. However, double-digit win seasons have not occurred nor has there been an ACC Championship. Only three seasons have seen the final CFP rankings include North Carolina.
Another factor to consider is Brown’s age, just turning 73 years old about a month ago. He is the oldest active head coach in all of college football and has been adamant in the past about not retiring due to age. However, Brown now admits if the wins are not there, he is willing to step away from the team.
North Carolina will be right back on the field Saturday with a huge in-state rivalry game against Duke. They will travel not too far away to play in Durham, a place the Tar Heels have not lost since 2018. A big bounce-back is needed from the team and despite reports, Brown will be on the sideline coaching for them.