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UNC Football Head Coach Mack Brown fired, the school says

This comes a week after he announced he was returning to the team.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Football Head Coach Mack Brown will not be returning to UNC for another season, the school announced Tuesday. 

His termination comes a week after he just announced that he planned to return to the team. 

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 is expected to 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, according to the school. 

“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,’’ Cunningham said. “Over the last six seasons – his second campaign in Chapel Hill -- he has coached our team to six bowl berths, including an Orange Bowl while mentoring 18 NFL draft picks.

Brown’s first stint as head coach of the Tar Heels came from 1988-97. He led Carolina to a record of 69-46-1 (.599), which included three 10-win seasons, six consecutive bowl games, a Top Five finish, a Top 10 finish, and two Top 20 finishes. 

In his second stint from 2019-2024, he led the team to a record 42- 32, with one more game left on the season.

Statement from Mack Brown: 

While this was not the perfect time and way in which I imagined going out, no time will ever be the perfect time. 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. 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 out right and I hope our fans will show up Saturday to do the same.

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