Happy Birthday Mack Brown!

The legendary Mack Brown turns 72 today!

Just six days away from the season opener, UNC head coach Mack Brown turned 72. The best football coach in UNC history, Brown is on his second ride with the Tar Heels.

First Stint with UNC

When Brown was hired, the first two seasons didn’t go well. After that, they found their niche, and Brown had UNC rolling by the mid-90s. He brought football prominence back to the school, as well as renovations to Kenan Memorial Stadium. His 90’s Tar Heel teams were some of the best in program history and were nationally relevant often.

Leaving North Carolina

In 1998, Brown left for the Texas job. He recruited well there and led the program to many great seasons. In 2005, Brown and the Longhorns won the national championship, reaching the pinnacle of the sport. They continued to field good teams until 2009-2010, when Brown would step away from coaching. After this, he would join the media space, featuring on ESPN and becoming a beloved figure through his personality.

Return of the Mack

In 2018, Mack Brown would come out of retirement and accept the North Carolina job once again. The Tar Heels had been horrible the two prior seasons. Immediately, his impact was felt on the recruiting trail. He brought in Sam Howell, flipping him from Florida State. This would begin the revitalization of UNC football. Since then, Brown has put together multiple great recruiting classes, and that has led to success on the field. North Carolina played in the Orange Bowl in 2020 and has been nationally ranked for much of his tenure. Brown has done a fantastic job of not only creating a successful football program but also lifting the fan base to heights not seen in some time.

Brown deserves a lot of credit for what he has done at UNC. At 72, we are likely entering the dawn of his coaching career, and Brown has the Tar Heels relevant again. Happy Birthday, Coach!