Former UNC star running back Natrone Means is returning to Chapel Hill to join the current coaching staff as an offensive analyst, the program announced Tuesday.

Means becomes the eighth current Tar Heel assistant to have played for head coach Mack Brown at UNC, and the sixth coach on the staff with NFL playing experience.

He arrives at UNC after spending last season as the offensive coordinator, assistant head coach and running backs coach at Fayetteville State. Prior to that job, he was the running backs coach for six seasons at Winston-Salem State.

While a player for the Tar Heels from 1990-92, Means rushed for 3,074 yards and 34 touchdowns while also catching 61 passes for 500 yards–twice earning himself First Team All-ACC honors.

He went on to be selected in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and quickly became the youngest player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, doing so at age 22. Means’ pro career would last for seven seasons and also included stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Natrone to our coaching staff,” Brown said, in a statement released by UNC. “Obviously, he was a great player for us and in the NFL, so he understands this place. He’s been a well-regarded coach at various levels since he retired from the NFL. We think this is a great opportunity for him to grow as a coach and for him to help our program in a critical role.”

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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