Cornerbacks coach Dre Bly and the UNC football program have mutually decided to part ways, the team announced on Wednesday. Bly had served in his role since November of 2018.
“We all love Dre Bly and appreciate what he means to the University of North Carolina as a Hall of Famer, an unbelievable advocate for the program, and an excellent coach,” head coach Mack Brown said in a statement. “Dre and I mutually agreed to part ways so that he could explore other opportunities in the coaching profession. We appreciate everything he’s done for the program over the last few years and wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Brown also coached Bly when he played for the Tar Heels in 1996 and 1997. Bly won Super Bowl XXXIV with the St. Louis Rams and played in the NFL until 2010. His role with UNC was his first major coaching position.
Bly is originally from Chesapeake, VA, and helped Carolina sign several notable recruits from that area and Virginia at large, including five-star cornerback Tony Grimes. Grimes has since transferred to Texas A&M, one of a multitude of UNC defensive backs who entered the transfer portal in December.
Under Bly, Carolina’s secondary struggled mightily, ranking 116th in passing yards allowed out of 131 teams in FBS college football in 2022. The Tar Heels never allowed fewer than 230 passing yards per game in his four seasons.
According to a release, the program has begun a national search to identify and hire its next assistant coach.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
100 Years of Kenan Stadium: 'Quite an Eye Opener'Longtime UNC football writer Lee Pace has been to Kenan Stadium more times than he can count. Still, he never forgot his first visit.
UNC's Xavier Lewis, Derek McDonald Named ACC Players of the WeekFor their standout performances in the Tar Heels’ 15-10 win against TCU, UNC defensive lineman Xavier Lewis and linebacker Derek McDonald have each been honored as ACC Players of the Week, the league announced Monday. 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞: Week 0 🔗 https://t.co/UUfmcLyFc6 pic.twitter.com/8Jn77Y8iNs — ACC Football (@ACCFootball) August 31, 2026 Lewis, a sophomore from […]
Across the Sea, an Opening Week Catharsis for UNC FootballSaturday's 15-10 win against TCU will only go into the record book as one game. But UNC surely feels it's more important than that.
Art's Angle: Looking Good!Through one game at least, Art Chansky says it looks as if Bill Belichick and UNC are a more competent bunch than last year.
UNC Football Grinds Out Season-Opening Win vs. TCU in IrelandThe UNC defense held TCU scoreless across the final 49 minutes of game time Saturday in Dublin, helping the Tar Heels secure a 15-10 win in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. HEELS WIN!!!@WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/XotRJAmcXn — Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) August 29, 2026 As they did last fall against TCU, the Tar Heels started the season […]
'Not Going for a Vacation': UNC Football Not Caught Up in Pageantry of Ireland ShowcaseUNC is ready to rewrite the narrative around the football program when it faces TCU in Dublin, Ireland tomorrow.
UNC Football vs. TCU (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Kickoff TimeUNC will open the 2026 football season when it faces TCU in Dublin, Ireland Saturday as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The Tar Heels are looking to avenge a 48-14 loss at the hands of the Horned Frogs in Kenan Stadium last season. If you aren’t abroad with the team, here’s how […]
100 Years of Kenan Stadium: Jones Angell's First VisitVoice of the Tar Heels Jones Angell recalls his first visit to Kenan Stadium as a fan from Jacksonville, N.C. in the 1990s.
Chansky's Notebook: Fool Me Once...Little Kool-Aid will be consumed by Carolina fans before the noon kickoff from Dublin. Fool me once but not again. It is a great trip to Ireland for the Tar Heels fans who bought the plane tickets and hotel rooms to tour the Emerald Isle and see if their team is any better than Bill […]
100 Years of Kenan Stadium: 'I Fell in Love'Former UNC quarterback Bryn Renner remembers his first visit to Kenan Stadium, and why it began a lifelong love affair.
›
