UNC and new head football coach Mack Brown made it official on Friday, confirming reports from earlier in the week about four additions to the coaching staff.

The Tar Heels are retaining Tommy Thigpen as safeties coach, while also promoting him to co-defensive coordinator.

Tim Brewster is leaving Texas A&M as tight ends coach to re-join UNC in the same role after having coached in Chapel Hill with Brown from 1989-97. He will also assume the title of assistant head coach with the Tar Heels.

College Football Hall-of-Famer Dre Bly will also join the staff as a defensive assistant in what will be his first coaching job at the collegiate level. Bly was an All-American cornerback for Brown and the Tar Heels in the late 1990’s before going on to an 11-year NFL career.

The final addition made official on Friday was that of Tim Cross as the new UNC defensive line coach. Cross previously worked with Brown at Texas, and was most recently the defensive line coach at Air Force.

“I’m thrilled to announce four outstanding coaches who will be part of our staff at Carolina,” Brown said. “Each of them are, first and foremost, excellent people and know how to coach, recruit and develop players to be the best they can be in the classroom, in the community, on the field and in life. Dré and Tommy are among the very best I’ve had the opportunity to coach and it has brought me great joy to watch them grow to be the successful people they are today.”

 

Cover photo via Blake Hodge

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