North Carolina head coach Mack Brown will not return following the 2024 season, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham announced on Tuesday, confirming a report from earlier in the day from InsideCarolina. The 73-year-old Brown is largely known for his tenure at Texas from 1998-2013, but he returned to Chapel Hill for a second stint as the head coach at UNC in 2019. He previously coached the Tar Heels from 1988-97. He'll leave as the winningest coach in program history, and now the North Carolina football coaching search will begin.
Though traditionally viewed as a basketball school, UNC has seen plenty of recent success on the gridiron as well. The Tar Heels will be heading to their sixth straight bowl game this season and they've made at least one appearance in the top 10 of the AP Poll in three of the past four seasons. If you love the Tar Heels, or just want to know who will call the shots for UNC football in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at InsideCarolina, the 247Sports affiliate that covers UNC.
The InsideCarolina insiders are providing on-the-ground updates on every development surrounding Brown's departure and the future of the UNC football program, including insights from Evans Rogers and Buck Sanders, who have deep-rooted ties inside and around the UNC community. Get all the inside scoop on the football program, plus VIP intel on UNC football, basketball, recruiting and more. Plus get access to The Tar Pit and the UNC Basketball premium message boards where you can connect with other UNC fans and insiders.
And right now, InsideCarolina is offering 75% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at InsideCarolina already has a list out of several potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to InsideCarolina now to see them all.
Top North Carolina football coach candidates
One name the staff has identified as a potential target is Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann. The 34-year-old Georgia native is seen as one of the top assistants in college football as he currently runs Kirby Smart's defense for the Bulldogs.
He was one of Smart's first hires in Athens ,and after a stint as co-defensive coordinator with Dan Lanning, Schumann stepped into the role of full defensive coordinator in 2022. Schumann also spent time in the personnel department under Nick Saban at Alabama, so talent acquisition is an area he specializes in.
He's gotten looks from the NFL as well, reportedly interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles for their defensive coordinator job in 2023. It's likely just a matter of time before Schumann gets his shot as a Power Four head coach, and this could be an intriguing landing spot for the up-and-coming star. See more candidates at InsideCarolina.
How to get insider UNC coaching staff search updates
The rest of the list includes several other intriguing names, including two former NFL head coaches and a college coach who is on a "meteoric" rise. You can only see who they are at InsideCarolina.
Who are the top candidates in the UNC football coaching search, and which former NFL head coaches could be in the mix? Go to InsideCarolina to see their UNC coaching hot board and more, all from a team of UNC insiders, and find out.
And reminder, InsideCarolina is offering 75% off an annual VIP membership as a coaching search special, so subscribe now before it's too late.
*Terms: This offer is only available for new members who sign up for an annual subscription to InsideCarolina. After the first year, subscription will re-bill on an annual basis at the regular rate. 247Sports.com reserves the right to alter or cancel this promotion at any time. Please write support@247sports.com with any questions you may have.