By Packy Moore

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

Heading into the 2024 season, Brown and the Tar Heels aimed to chart a different course than the previous two seasons. Along with other coaching and staff changes, Chizik was let go as defensive coordinator, and Brown hired former Temple and Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins as new defensive coordinator. Seeking to replace Maye, who departed for the NFL, Brown also brought in transfer quarterbacks Max Johnson and Jacolby Criswell, to compete with 2023 backup quarterback Harrell for the starting job. Johnson initially won the position, and started the opener against Minnesota, but broke his leg early in the second half and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Harrell started the next two games, and despite both being Tar Heel wins, Harrell had limited success in both, and was benched ultimately in favor of Criswell who started the final nine games of the regular season. After starting the season 3–0, the Tar Heels lost four games in a row, including a 70–50 loss to James Madison (which was the most points scored by a Tar Heel opponent both at home and in school history) and the Victory Bell to rivals Duke for the first time since 2018. The James Madison loss was particularly controversial, as an emotional exchange took place in the Tar Heel locker room following the game. Brown, it appeared, told the team he was quitting, only to immediately walk back the comments the following week in his press conference.

The James Madison locker room incident and four-game losing streak proved to be inflection points in the season, as despite the Tar Heels showing some improved week-over-week performances following their 3–4 start to the season, Brown’s team only won three more games in the regular season, barely clinching bowl eligibility by finishing the regular season 6–6, including another close loss to rivals NC State.

During the 2024 season, speculation surrounded Brown’s coaching future, with the James Madison game and postgame comments cited as key reasons for uncertainty surrounding Brown’s future as Tar Heel coach. Much like his tenure in Texas, his second stint in Chapel Hill ended acrimoniously. Prior to the team’s final game against NC State, Brown publicly expressed plans to return for 2025 at his weekly press conference, seemingly putting an end to the speculation. The next day however, athletic director Bubba Cunningham fired Brown. Leading up to his comments in the press conference before the NC State game, Cunningham and Brown had been working towards a mutual ending to the coach’s tenure at Carolina, but Brown’s comments forced the administration to react and terminate his contract.

The Tar Heels lost Brown’s final game, the regular season finale against NC State, 35–30. Tar Heel Tight Ends Coach and Run Game Coordinator Freddie Kitchens was named interim head coach.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –Freddie Kitchens, an NFL coaching veteran who has served as run game coordinator and tight ends coach at the University of North Carolina for the past two seasons, has been named interim head football coach. He steps in for Mack Brown, whose final day as the Tar Heels’ head coach is today (Sunday, Dec. 1).

“Freddie Kitchens is an incredibly talented coach who is respected by our student-athletes and staff,” said Carolina director of athletics Bubba Cunningham. “He is dedicated to doing all he can to help lead our program through this transition, and we appreciate his willingness to take on this role.”

Kitchens joined the Carolina football program in February, 2023. He came to Chapel Hill after spending one season as a senior football analyst at South Carolina following a 16-year run in the NFL that included a stint as the Cleveland Browns head coach and a trip to the Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals.

COURTESY WIKIPEDIA COMMONS AND NORTH CAROLINA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS