North Carolina announced Tuesday that Mack Brown will not return next season, a day after the Hall of Fame coach announced his intention to return to the Tar Heels.

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham informed Brown of his decision on Tuesday. Brown, 73, will coach the team in Saturday’s regular-season finale against NC State, but no decision has been made yet on whether he will coach the Tar Heels (6-5) in their bowl game.

“While this wasn’t the perfect time and way I envisioned going out, no time will ever be the perfect time,” Brown said in a statement. “I spent 16 seasons at North Carolina and will always cherish the memories and relationships that Sally and I built during our time as head coaches.

“We have had the opportunity to coach and mentor some great young men, and we will miss the opportunity to do that in the future. Going forward, my entire focus is on helping these players and coaches preparing for Saturday’s game against NC. Give them the best chance to win. We want to send these seniors out on a good note and I hope our fans come out on Saturday to do the same.”

In two stints at North Carolina, Brown has amassed a combined 113-78-1. Brown, who won a national championship with Texas after his first UNC tenure, returned to the Tar Heels in 2019 and took them to an ACC championship game in 2022.

“Mack Brown has won more games than any football coach in UNC history, and we deeply appreciate all he has done for Carolina football and our university,” Cunningham said in a statement. Chapel Hill – he has coached our team to six bowl berths, including an Orange Bowl, while mentoring 18 NFL draft picks.

“…Coach Brown has guided the Carolina football program back into the national conversation as we improved the program’s facilities, significantly increased staff size, invested in salaries and strengthened our nutrition, strength and conditioning programs. He is also a dedicated fundraiser, strengthening football endowments and supporting our other sports programs. We thank Coach Brown for his dedication to Carolina and wish him, Sally and their family all the best.”

Brown ranks eighth all-time among FBS coaches with 288 wins, and he is the only coach with more than 100 wins at multiple FBS schools – 113 in North Carolina and 158 in Texas.

With Brown wrapping up the season, Cunningham and Chancellor Lee H. Roberts will begin the search for a new head coach. Brown has three years left on his contract; the remaining payments will be paid by the Ministry of Athletics and not through state funds.

With Brown out, there are now only two active FBS head coaches who have won a national championship: Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.