North Carolina football coach Mack Brown has been vocal in defending his program against what he calls “negative recruiting” tactics by opposing coaches, particularly targeting his age and potential retirement. At the recent ACC Media Days, Brown took direct aim at Mike Elko, the former Duke head coach who has since moved to Texas A&M. Brown accused Elko of spreading misinformation about his tenure at UNC, specifically claiming that Elko had suggested he would outlast Brown’s time in Chapel Hill.
Brown, who is the oldest active head coach in college football at 73, has faced speculation about his retirement each offseason. Despite these rumors, he remains committed to his role as he enters his 35th season. In a candid interview with the Tar Heel Tribune, Brown recounted a conversation he had with Elko after the latter’s departure to Texas A&M. “Coach Elko said, ‘I’ll be at Duke longer than Mack will be at Carolina,'” Brown recalled. “Well, I called him when he went out to A&M and said, ‘Okay, you lied.’ He said, ‘Well, I didn’t think I was going to [leave].’ I said, ‘Yeah, I got it. I hear all that.’”
Elko had built a competitive program at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to a 16-9 record over two seasons, but he was unable to overcome UNC in their rivalry games, including a dramatic double-overtime loss last year. Brown’s remarks underscore his frustration with the tactics used against him in recruiting battles. “Every recruit that comes in, the first thing he wants to know is, ‘Are you going to quit?'” Brown said. “Because every coach recruiting against us says I’m going to quit. And six of them have been fired that said that already. So they ought to be worried about themselves.”
Brown’s coaching career has spanned several decades, starting at Tulane in the 1980s and encompassing stints at Texas and North Carolina. He boasts a remarkable 276 career wins, ranking seventh in college football history, and has a combined 107-73-1 record at UNC. He is also the second-winningest coach at Texas, behind Darrell Royal. Despite his age, Brown’s leadership has kept the Tar Heels competitive in the ACC, regularly finishing recruiting cycles in the top 25 nationally.
However, the current 2025 recruiting cycle has seen a dip in UNC’s rankings. If the cycle ended today, the Tar Heels would finish with their lowest-ranked class in the modern recruiting era, holding the No. 55 class with 12 commits. Notable recruits include tackle Alex Payne, quarterback Bryce Baker, and edge rusher Austin Alexander, but the overall class falls short of previous high standards.
In summary, Mack Brown remains a formidable figure in college football, leveraging his extensive experience and successful track record to counteract recruiting challenges. His recent comments reflect a proactive stance against criticisms and emphasize his ongoing commitment to North Carolina’s football program.
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