The Mack Brown Era 2.0 in Chapel Hill will last just a little bit longer.

The football program announced Wednesday that it had agreed with Brown to a one-year contract extension. The length of Brown’s contract remains at five years, scheduled to expire in June 2027, when the head coach would be two months away from his 76th birthday. Brown originally signed a five-year contract with UNC in December 2018, but has followed that up with two separate extensions.

“Since his return to Carolina, Mack has done an outstanding job building a positive culture and energizing our fan base,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said. “Under his leadership, we will continue to win both on the field and in the classroom, and we are all excited about the future of our football program. Sincere thanks to Mack and Sally for all of their contributions to the Chapel Hill community.”

Brown is one of only five active FBS head coaches with a national championship, and the only one who is currently in the Hall of Fame. He ranks eighth all-time with 265 career wins, and was named National Coach of the Year with Texas in 2008.

“I want to thank the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Guskiewicz, Bubba Cunningham and the athletics department for their continued investment in our football program,” Brown said. “We’ve been able to accomplish a lot over the last three years on the field, in recruiting, and in the classroom. The program was able to navigate a difficult period during the pandemic and it is in a healthy place currently. We’re excited about where we’re headed, and as we continue to receive strong support from the University, the future is bright for Carolina football.”

In Brown’s three seasons back with the program, Carolina has reached a bowl game in three straight seasons after missing the postseason in the previous two years. The Tar Heels reached the program’s first-ever Orange Bowl during the 2020 season, and have set new standards on the recruiting trail with a loaded 2022 class.

The football program just released its 2022 regular season schedule on Monday, and season tickets are currently on sale.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Gerry Broome

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
‹
Here’s a Complete Rundown of Every UNC Football Player Named to a 2026 Award Watch List
As we approach the 2026 college football season, several Tar Heels have been named to watch lists for national awards. Check out the complete rundown below, and check back in throughout the season to see an updated list! RB Demon June — Doak Walker Award As a true freshman in 2025, June emerged as one […]
What's Playing for Bobby Petrino Like? Tar Heels Discuss New Offensive Coordinator
The 2026 season will be Bobby Petrino’s first as UNC’s offensive coordinator. Petrino will look to revitalize a unit which struggled for most of the 2025 season, finishing 16th out of 17 teams in the ACC in scoring and dead last in yardage. Petrino most recently coached at Arkansas, and though the Razorbacks endured a […]
Chansky's Notebook: Carolina Conundrum
There is no question Mike Lombardi will lose his job as football general manager and leave Chapel Hill, writes Art Chansky.
UNC Football Ramping Up Intensity as Fall Training Camp Hits 1-Week Mark
Thursday morning marked one week of UNC’s fall training camp, and head coach Bill Belichick said the team has been steadily ramping up the intensity of its sessions. Wednesday was the Tar Heels’ first day of practice in pads, as the “acclimation period” portion of camp comes to an end. “The competition really starts this […]
UNC Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick on Medical Leave, Father Bill Says
UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is away from the program on medical leave, head coach Bill Belichick said Thursday at the Kenan Football Center. Steve Belichick had been scheduled to address the media last Thursday following the Tar Heels’ first practice of fall camp, but did not appear at the podium. Bill Belichick said the […]
Chansky's Notebook: The One Who Got Away
Mack Brown was a very good football coach. His father was a high school coach in Tennessee, and his older brother Watson preceded him into mid-major positions. The peripatetic Brown held nine assistant jobs and one as a head coach in 15 years before he was 35. That included being the athletic director at Tulane […]
Taking Advantage of Court Ruling, UNC Kicker Rece Verhoff Returns to Program
Kicker Rece Verhoff is returning to the UNC football program and plans to play in the 2026 season, taking advantage of a recent court ruling from U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney which granted a fifth year of eligibility to athletes who graduated high school in 2022. Welcome back Rece Verhoff pic.twitter.com/Fwk0Z4PeNB — Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) […]
Shaquille O'Neal Featured Among 2026 Performers for Chapel Thrill Concert Series
UNC has announced its setlist for the 2026 Chapel Thrill Concert Series. The series is part of the school’s “Chapel Thrill Game Day,” which debuted in 2025. The concerts are the centerpiece of the festivities, with the stage located on Polk Place in front of Wilson Library in the heart of the UNC campus. Each […]
Amid Cloud of Uncertainty, UNC Football Opens 2026 Fall Training Camp
UNC took the field in Chapel Hill Thursday morning to open its fall training camp. Despite prognostications of doom and a gamut of negative press, it appears the Tar Heels will, in fact, play football in 2026. The bizarre headlines trickling out of the Kenan Football Center had no doubt cast a pall over things: […]
Belichick Mum on Michael Lombardi Situation, While UNC Chancellor Vows Investigation Will 'Fix It'
UNC head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media at the Kenan Football Center as the Tar Heels opened their fall training camp Thursday morning. It was Belichick’s first public appearance since the university announced Monday that general manager Michael Lombardi was being put on paid administrative leave for what is being reported as an HR […]
›