Mack Brown, one of college football’s most accomplished coaches, recently opened up about his departure from Texas after 16 years.
Now stepping back from coaching to start a role as an analyst, Brown shared his experiences and reflections on his time in Texas during his appearance at the See Ball Get Ball podcast with David Pollack.
Mack Brown Felt Worn Down at Texas After A Decade
Recently, Brown made an appearance in the See Ball Get Ball podcast, where he talked about his career and how demanding his role of being a coach was. “We got tired at Texas. Sixteen years is a long time at a place like Texas,” he said.
“Sally always said it’s four presidential terms. So that’s a long time to be at the University of Texas, so it was probably time for me to leave there and for them to get somebody else new, because you get worn down.”
In 2013, after an impressive run that included a national championship in 2005, Brown felt it was time for him and Texas to move on. However, the exit wasn’t the end of his journey.
“What I learned was I was tired, I wasn’t ready to be through with coaching,” Brown explained.
After leaving Texas, he dove into television work, relishing the chance to stay close to the game. “I loved it,” he told Pollack. “I’d do a Friday or Thursday night game, fly to Bristol at 4 a.m., do ABC Countdown to Kickoff, then SportsCenter on Sunday. I loved the coaches, the kids, the game.”
Brown Returns to Chapel Hill
Working for television recharged Brown, and he was ready to make a grand return. When North Carolina, where he and his wife Sally had deep roots, came calling in 2018. He just couldn’t resist.
“We got married there, our kids grew up there,” he said. The Tar Heels’ program was struggling, having won just five games over two seasons. “I like fixing things,” Brown said. “The program was in a mess. Nobody was coming to the games.”
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In 2024, the Tar Heels started 3-0 but stumbled to a 6-6 finish, marred by a historic 70-50 loss to James Madison. Controversy followed when Brown appeared to announce his resignation postgame, only to retract it days later.
Despite his public intent to return for 2025, athletic director Bubba Cunningham fired him before the season finale against NC State, which resulted in a 35-30 loss.
Now, Brown is back in the analyst’s chair, a role he knows very well. Whether breaking down games or sharing stories, Brown’s voice will keep resonating.
