Mack Brown slams North Carolina admin after firing, questions timing before NC State loss | Sporting News

Mack Brown’s rollercoaster week came to a bitter end as North Carolina fell to in-state rival NC State, 35-30, on Saturday. Brown, recently dismissed as the Tar Heels’ head coach, spoke candidly about his frustrations with how the situation was handled by the university administration.

“All I wanted to do was wait until the end of the year,” Brown explained, according to On3. “And they wanted me to retire on Monday, before the (NC) State game. We haven’t beaten State—it was really important for these kids to play well and have a chance to win. I didn’t want to break their hearts on Monday. So I said, ‘No, I won’t do that.’ And then they wanted me to do it Friday. Well, I sure wasn’t going to do it Friday before the game.”

Despite his protests, North Carolina opted to part ways with Brown ahead of the rivalry showdown, leaving the long-time coach disheartened by the timing.

The Tar Heels’ loss on Saturday only deepened the sting, as the team fought hard—and even harder afterward in an attempt to prevent the NC State players front planting their flag at midfield—but ultimately couldn’t overcome the Wolfpack.

Reflecting on the week, Brown expressed disappointment not only with his dismissal but also with the administration’s approach to the transition.

“As far as the he-said, she-said and the, what you’d call the ‘source close to the university,’ I don’t need any of that,” Brown stated. “There were three people that talked about this. And it was me, John Cryer, chairman of the board of trustees, and athletics director (Bubba) Cunningham. I never talked to the chancellor, didn’t have one conversation with him.”

While Brown acknowledged the need for new leadership, he felt the decision should have been delayed until the season’s end, citing the hardships his players had endured, including the death of teammate Tylee Craft.

“These poor kids have had so much turmoil in their lives,” Brown said. “I wasn’t thinking about me. I wasn’t thinking about my future. I was thinking about what’s best for these young people.”

Despite the challenges, Brown praised his players for rallying to earn wins against Virginia, Florida State, and Wake Forest before the NC State game. North Carolina will now begin its search for a new head coach.