Following a disappointing 6-7 season, the first dominos within UNC head coach Mack Brown’s coaching staff have fallen. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will not return to the team next season, as first reported by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

Under Bateman, the Carolina defense struggled mightily in 2021, allowing opponents to score 32.1 points per game, which ranked 105th out of 130 teams in FBS college football. The rushing defense allowed 180 yards per game on the ground, which ranked 97th. Its struggles were never more apparent than in a humbling defeat in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl to South Carolina in December. The Gamecocks, playing with a converted wide receiver at quarterback, rushed for more than 300 yards on the Tar Heels in a 38-21 beatdown.

The Tar Heels allowed 30 or more points nine times in 13 games this season. Two of the four times they didn’t came against Georgia State and Wofford. The poorest stretch came between October 16 and November 6, when UNC gave up 42, 44 and 55 points to Miami, Notre Dame and Wake Forest, respectively. Ironically, the Tar Heels went 2-1 over that three-game stretch.

At the time of his hiring by UNC in December 2018, Bateman was the defensive coordinator at Army, where his unit ranked in the nation’s top 10. His defense at Carolina showed marginal improvement during his first two years, even ranking fifth in the country with 36 sacks in 2020. But the unit took a major step back in 2021, necessitating a change in leadership.

Bateman’s departure was followed almost immediately by the exit of special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Jovan Dewitt. 2021 was Dewitt’s second season with the Tar Heels.

“We appreciate everything Coach Bateman, Coach Dewitt, and their families did for the program,” the UNC football program said in a statement. “And we wish them nothing but success as they transition to their next opportunities.”

Bateman and Dewitt leave Carolina’s defensive coaching staff with just three holdovers, though that number could certainly change. Tommy Thigpen is co-defensive coordinator and also coaches inside linebackers, while Dre Bly coaches cornerbacks and Tim Cross coaches the defensive line.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
UNC OL Joshua Ezeudu Declares for NFL Draft; Third Offensive Lineman to Leave School
An already troubling positional group within the UNC football program is set to lose some major depth for 2022. Junior offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu announced Monday he would be forgoing his final year of eligibility and entering the NFL Draft. I am beyond blessed and thank God for everything he has done in my life. […]
UNC QB Sam Howell Declares for NFL Draft
The new year will usher in a new era of quarterback play for the UNC football program. Days after the team’s loss in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl to South Carolina, junior quarterback Sam Howell announced on Twitter he would be forgoing his final year of college eligibility and declaring for the NFL Draft. Proverbs 3:5-6 […]
South Carolina Runs Past UNC in Duke's Mayo Bowl
No mayonnaise bath for Mack Brown. The veteran head coach suffered one last humbling defeat in the 2021 season, as his Tar Heels came out flat against South Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and never recovered. The 38-21 loss sent UNC, who finishes the year 6-7, to its first losing season under […]
UNC Football Hoping to End 2021 On a High Note in Duke's Mayo Bowl
The Queen City will host a border war Thursday, with the two Carolinas fighting for regional supremacy in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. This will be the 59th all-time meeting between North and South Carolina in football, but it’s the first time the Tar Heels and Gamecocks have played in the postseason. Though UNC’s […]
Mondays With Mack: National Signing Day and Preparing for the Duke's Mayo Bowl
UNC football head coach Mack Brown joined Aaron Keck this morning for “Mondays with Mack,” presented by Chapel Hill Tire. The Tar Heels are busy with preparations for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl game with South Carolina on December 30, but Brown still made time this month to sign a historic 2022 recruiting class, one which […]
UNC QB Sam Howell On Playing in Bowl Game: 'Wasn't Really A Decision To Be Made'
UNC junior quarterback Sam Howell spoke with the media Monday afternoon for the first time since announcing he would be playing in the team’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl Game against South Carolina. Howell, who is projected to be an early selection in next spring’s NFL Draft, appeared as relaxed and and comfortable as he’d been the […]
UNC Football Receives Bid to Duke's Mayo Bowl; Will Face South Carolina
For the third consecutive year under head coach Mack Brown, the UNC football team is going bowling. The Tar Heels found out their postseason destination Sunday, and it’s very close to home. Carolina will play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, where they will face South Carolina. Both the Tar Heels and Gamecocks finished […]
WR Beau Corrales, LB Eugene Asante to Transfer From UNC Football
Two more Tar Heel football players have entered their names into the transfer portal. Senior receiver Beau Corrales, who has struggled with injuries since 2020 and didn’t catch a pass this season, announced his intention to transfer on Twitter, while junior linebacker Eugene Asante announced his decision on Instagram. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VIf3Lp1HBL — ⚡️Beau Corrales⚡️ (@BEAU_JANGLES12) […]
UNC's Josh Downs Named To All-ACC First Team; Several Teammates Honored
After a historic regular season which saw him break UNC’s single-season records for receptions and receiving yards, sophomore receiver Josh Downs was named to the All-ACC first team Tuesday morning. Downs tallied 98 catches, 1,273 receiving yards and eight touchdowns this season for the Tar Heels, and caught at least eight passes in 10 of […]
Miracle NC State Comeback Sends UNC Football to Devastating Loss
When the clock hit zero, the Wolfpack celebrated a 34-30 win, having scored two touchdowns in 26 seconds to stun Carolina and send the Tar Heels to their sixth loss of the season.
›