Chansky's Notebook: Mack's New Tack

In less than two years, Carolina has met Mack Brown’s goal to be the cool school.

His two coaching stints at UNC have a couple of things in common. He inherited a down program both times, but 32 years after his first try, Brown is not only more experienced, he is way savvier with the media and other off-field responsibilities.

Mack holds two ZOOM conference a week, which he doesn’t have to do and really couldn’t in person because of the logistics of assembling the media. Thus, virtual press conferences may stay.

When he showed up in Chapel Hill as an unknown 37-year old with a gift for gab, he went 1-10 and 1-10 in his first two seasons. “We weren’t winning any games and I had nothing to say, no answers,” Brown lamented of his sometimes-testy relationship with sportswriters.

Now, it’s a whole new ball game. Some of it comes from winning big at Texas for most of his 15 seasons there, and five years with ESPN after stepping away from the sideline in Austin. “I am more confident in what we’re doing,” he said at Wednesday’s virtual presser, “and I didn’t know how hard your job was until I went to ESPN. Now I do and want to help you.”

Led by UNC football’s media director Jeremy Sharpe, the Tar Heels are by far the most active program in the ACC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Rarely does a day pass without something pushed out through the various social and news feeds. In contrast, you almost never see a football post from Duke, State and Wake Forest.

All this has helped Brown get a jump on recruiting to a place that was far from cool when he arrived back here. He eats and meets with his players most days and does more listening to them than talking, which wasn’t the case in the old days. And at 69 and in his last coaching job, Brown wants to be a mentor to younger coaches like the veterans were to him.

Charlotte’s Will Healy is an example. The 35-year-old Healy who was bringing his 49ers here Saturday before the COVID cancellation of the game had struck up a friendship with Brown. Healy is a former college quarterback, an offensive innovator and darn-near scratch golfer. He is also a big spirit-builder just like Brown was in his younger years.

“Will does some crazy things with his team,” Brown said, laughing. “I will dance after wins, but I’m not taking my shirt off. Sally would divorce me if I did that.”

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Chansky’s Notebook: Mack’s New Tack

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