North Carolina coach Mack Brown will not return to the Tar Heels next season, the school announced Tuesday.
The 73-year-old Brown, who had three years remaining on his contract, on Monday said he intended to return, although he had not yet held any discussions about his future with athletic director Bubba Cunningham.
“While this was not the perfect time and way in which I imagined going out, no time will ever be the perfect time,” Brown said in a statement. “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.”
Brown will coach in Saturday’s game against rival NC State, and no decision has been made about the postseason.
“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 in a statement.
“… Coach Brown has led the Carolina football program back into the national conversation as we improved the program’s facilities, significantly increased the size of the staff, invested in salaries and bolstered our nutrition and strength and conditioning programs. He also has been a dedicated fundraiser, strengthening the football endowment while also supporting our other sports programs. We thank Coach Brown for his dedication to Carolina, and wish him, Sally and their family all the best.”
Brown, in his second stint as head coach at North Carolina, has gone 44-32 with five bowl berths over the past six seasons. He also coached the Tar Heels from 1988 to 1997, and he has a combined 113-78-1 record at Chapel Hill.
UNC said Cunningham and Chancellor Lee H. Roberts will begin the search for a new head coach.
The university said the remainder of Brown’s contract will be paid by the UNC athletic department and not through state funds.
