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Tag: Mack Brown

  • Former UNC football coach Mack Brown sells Chapel Hill mansion for eye-popping sum

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    DoorifyMLS

    Roughly a year after being ousted as UNC’s head football coach, Mack Brown has sold his Chapel Hill mansion for an eye-popping sum.

    Brown and his wife, Sally, originally listed the property at 330 Tenney Circle for $6.6 million in March, then took it off the market before relisting on Oct. 1 for $6.25 million.

    The 9,913-square-foot traditional home sold for $6 million on Nov. 11, according to Orange County deed records. That’s $3.9 million above what the Browns paid in 2019.

    The new owner, Peter S. Evanovich, is the son of the New York Times bestselling author Janet Evanovich, best known for the mystery series featuring bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. He’s worked as part of his mother’s writing team since the beginning of the Plum series, according to Penguin Random House’s website. His mother and father, Peter Evanovich, also live in Chapel Hill.

    Triangle Business Journal first reported the sale.

    A chef’s kitchen is among the offerings at 330 Tenney Circle in Chapel Hill, which recently sold for $6 million.
    A chef’s kitchen is among the offerings at 330 Tenney Circle in Chapel Hill, which recently sold for $6 million. DoorifyMLS

    Built in 1922, the property sits on .85 acres and offers five bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and a two-car garage with EV charging station. In 2022, Chapel Hill-based builder and architect Phil Szostak renovated and expanded the property, according to the listing.

    Amenities include saltwater pool, covered porch and patio, rooftop terrace and a bonus wing with golf simulator and office. It’s also in Chapel Hill Historic District and within walking distance to UNC’s campus, downtown Chapel Hill and Franklin Street.

    “Every inch of the property reflects an impeccable attention to detail and a deep respect for the home’s storied past,” said the listing agent, Mollie Owen, a Realtor with Raleigh-based Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty.

    Inside one of 10 bathrooms at 330 Tenney Circle in Chapel Hill.
    Inside one of 10 bathrooms at 330 Tenney Circle in Chapel Hill. DoorifyMLS

    Brown’s rise and fall

    The sale marks the end of an era, both on and off the field.

    Brown, 74, first led the Tar Heels to national prominence from 1988 to 1997. He returned in late 2018, but his second stint ended in late 2024 when he was fired over a 6-5 season, despite his desire to continue.

    Two weeks later, UNC replaced him with Bill Belichick, 73, the legendary former New England Patriots coach.

    “While this was not the perfect time and way in which I imagined going out, no time will ever be the perfect time,” Brown said when his departure was announced. “I’ve spent 16 seasons at North Carolina and will always cherish the memories and relationships Sally and I have built while serving as head coach.”

    According to the Associated Press, Brown now lives in Austin, Texas, where he was the head football coach at the University of Texas from 1998 to 2013.

    Related Stories from Raleigh News & Observer

    Chantal Allam

    The News & Observer

    Chantal Allam covers real estate for the The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. She writes about commercial and residential real estate, covering everything from deals, expansions and relocations to major trends and events. She previously covered the Triangle technology sector and has been a journalist on three continents.

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  • ‘Embarrassing day, shocking day’: James Madison hangs 70 points on Tar Heels :: WRALSportsFan.com

    ‘Embarrassing day, shocking day’: James Madison hangs 70 points on Tar Heels :: WRALSportsFan.com

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    By NATE RYAN Associated Press

    James Madison Dukes 70
    North Carolina Tar HeelsNorth Carolina Tar Heels 50
    Final

    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Alonza Barnett III’s five touchdown passes led a quick-strike offense that helped James Madison beat North Carolina 70-50 on Saturday for a signature road win under first-year coach Bob Chesney.

    Barnett threw for 388 yards with no interceptions while also running for 99 yards and two scores for the Dukes (3-0), who had five first-half touchdown drives — four going for five plays or less and three taking less than 35 seconds.

    James Madison had TDs on offense, defense and special teams in its first victory over North Carolina in four meetings, with its 70 points matching the most ever allowed by the Tar Heels (3-1) in any game as well as the most for JMU against a Bowl Subdivision opponent.

    “Embarrassing day, shocking day,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said. “You shouldn’t be at North Carolina and lose to a Group of Five team, period. There are no excuses. Our defense looked awful. We had communication problems, we had missed tackles. We had guys wide open for a touchdown.

    “It can only come back to one person and that’s me. I’ve hired everybody on this staff and signed every player on this team. I am at fault 100%. I got big shoulders, and I’m embarrassed for our whole program that we would put a product like that on the field.”

    The Dukes, who started their now-completed transition to FBS in 2022 and were picked second in their Sun Belt Conference division this season, surpassed their previous-best total against a power-conference foe (36 against Virginia last year) midway through the second quarter. That came on a 39-yard TD pass to Taylor Thompson by Barnett, whose seven touchdowns through the air and on the ground accounted for a school record.

    “We never stopped believing in our players, they never stopped believing in themselves, and we knew we could win,” Chesney said. “We played harder, we played more disciplined, and we played together and that’s, you know, what I’m most proud of.”

    The Tar Heels (3-1) yielded a school-record 53 points during a sloppy first half with four turnovers. The bright spots were quarterback Jacolby Criswell, who threw for 475 yards and three touchdowns in his second career start, and running back Omarion Hampton, who rushed for three TDs and 139 yards.

    James Madison trailed for less than a minute during the game and relied on defense and special teams to take an 11-0 lead in the opening five minutes.

    After a career-long 50-yard field goal by Noe Ruelas, cornerback Terrence Spence made his seventh career punt block, which was recovered by Jayden Mines for a 14-yard touchdown. Spence also had two first-half interceptions, returning the second 33 yards for a touchdown that put JMU ahead 53-21 at halftime.

    The Takeaway

    James Madison: The Dukes’ offense (which managed 13 points against Gardner-Webb) awoke with an aggressive game plan by Chesney, who called a fleaflicker and an onside kick to stay unbeaten since arriving from Holy Cross this season to replace Curt Cignetti (who left for Indiana).

    “I did not want to go back home trying to sleep at night saying, ‘I wish I was more aggressive,’ ” Chesney said. “I’ve lived that life before, and I don’t want to live that life again So our aggressiveness will continue.”

    North Carolina: The Tar Heels were booed off the field at halftime of a blowout loss that negated the promise of their third consecutive 3-0 start (for the first time since 1979-81).

    A home run

    Barnett, a native of Whitsett, North Carolina, enjoyed the game of his life with several family members in attendance.

    “It’s surreal and crazy how things work out,” he said. “I don’t think that was an accident. That was destined.”

    Up Next

    James Madison: The Dukes wrap up their nonconference schedule at home against Ball State on Saturday.

    North Carolina: The Tar Heels will open Atlantic Coast Conference play on the road at Duke on Saturday.

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  • The Tar Heels faded in past 2 years with QB Drake Maye. Now they must fix that issue without him

    The Tar Heels faded in past 2 years with QB Drake Maye. Now they must fix that issue without him

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    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Mack Brown’s return to North Carolina stabilized the program. His sixth season begins with a pair of hurdles to accomplishing more.

    The Tar Heels are moving forward after star quarterback Drake Maye headed to the NFL, and Brown is determined to figure out how to finish better after two straight late-season fades.

    “It’s a problem, it’s an issue,” Brown said. “And it’s the only thing that’s keeping us from being where we need to be.”

    The Tar Heels were 9-1 in 2022 after clinching a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, then lost their last four. Last year’s team started 6-0 and reached No. 10 in the AP Top 25, then finished 2-5.

    Now Maye is gone as the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, and Brown is focused on how to get the Tar Heels to finish with some zip.

    “When we come out here and say the offense had a bad day in practice, that means you’re probably going to be an inconsistent team,” Brown said after the first preseason-camp practice. “And we’ve had too much of that around here.”

    This year’s team is picked to finish eighth in the expanded 17-team ACC.

    Brown is touting depth as the best of his second tenure in Chapel Hill, as well as showing optimism for growth under former Georgia Tech and Temple head coach Geoff Collins as defensive coordinator.

    Maye is the highest-profile of 11 departed offensive and defensive starters, though losses include one of the nation’s leading tacklers in linebacker Cedric Gray.

    Powering the offense

    Running back Omarion Hampton was an Associated Press second-team All-American last year after ranking fifth in the Bowl Subdivision by averaging 115.7 yards rushing. He’s studied film on players like NFL star Christian McCaffrey to expand his game.

    “I’m trying to catch the ball … and then pass block, because I know that’s what they do in the (NFL),” Hampton said. “I feel like doing that, it can expand my game and show them I’m able to do that as well.”

    Maye’s successor

    The Tar Heels have a preseason-camp battle to replace Maye, headlined by redshirt sophomore Conner Harrell and Max Johnson, a transfer with stops at LSU and Texas A&M.

    Harrell got his first career start in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl loss to West Virginia after Maye declared for the NFL draft, throwing for 270 yards and two scores while also running for 75 yards and a score. Johnson, son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, has 22 career starts.

    There’s also the return of Jacolby Criswell, who started his career at UNC before transferring to Arkansas for a year.

    Linework

    Willie Lampkin, who started eight games at right guard last year, is the only returning starter to the offensive line. The Tar Heels bolstered their numbers at the position through the transfer portal, including adding Austin Blaske (Georgia), Howard Sampson (North Texas) and Jakiah Leftwich (Georgia Tech).

    Brown said his goal is being able to reliably play nine offensive linemen.

    More defensively

    Brown is on the third defensive coordinator of his second UNC stint in Collins, who replaced Gene Chizik. UNC hasn’t ranked higher than 10th in the 14-team ACC in scoring or total defense for the past three seasons. Losing Gray (10.1 tackles per game) won’t help, though fellow linebacker Power Echols returns with pass rusher Kaimon Rucker (8 1/2 sacks last year).

    “More aggression — ‘Master of Mayhem’ describes him perfectly,” Echols said of Collins. “He’s going to call a real aggressive game.”

    Brown also sounded high on secondary that includes cornerback Alijah Huzzie (three interceptions) and adds safety Jakeen Harris from rival North Carolina State.

    The schedule

    The Tar Heels open at Minnesota on Aug. 29 and visit rival Duke (Sept. 28) in their ACC opener. There’s also a trip to No. 10 Florida State (Nov. 2), the reigning league champion and preseason favorite. The slate doesn’t include any of the league’s three new schools and is rooted in longtime instate or league matchups, including a trip to Virginia (Oct. 26), a visit from Wake Forest (Nov. 16) and the home finale against No. 24 N.C. State (Nov. 30).

    ___

    AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

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  • Nix, Maye could give new-look Holiday Bowl a retro feel

    Nix, Maye could give new-look Holiday Bowl a retro feel

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    SAN DIEGO — The Holiday Bowl will usher in a new era with a potentially retro look.

    The No. 15 Oregon Ducks will play North Carolina on Wednesday night at Petco Park, the downtown home of baseball’s San Diego Padres. It’ll be the first football game at the ballpark and the first Holiday Bowl since 2019.

    While the setting will be new, the matchup between prolific quarterbacks Bo Nix of Oregon and Drake Maye of North Carolina could produce a classic high-scoring Holiday Bowl.

    Both quarterbacks will be looking for a strong finish to springboard them in 2023 after their teams slumped at the end of the regular season. Oregon lost two of its last three, including to rival Oregon State, and North Carolina comes in on a three-game losing streak, including a 29-point loss to Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game.

    Nix had been a Heisman contender before an ankle injury in a loss to Washington knocked him off the pace. He announced last week in a video that he’ll return for his fifth year of eligibility: “There’s nothing like being an Oregon Duck. For 2023, I’m back.”

    The Ducks are favored by 14½ points and the over/under is 74½ points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

    “I think it’s unbelievable,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said of the potential for an offensive show. “Both defenses are hearing how great the offenses are going to be so they’re both mad. Coming into the game they think nobody’s giving them a chance so that means those defenses will fight hard.”

    Both teams had to replace their offensive coordinators after the regular season. Brown said play-calling falls to Lonnie Galloway, the assistant head coach/passing game coordinator, “who has never called a play in a ballgame, so it will be interesting.”

    Brown is coaching in the Holiday Bowl for the sixth time. He brought Texas here five times between 2000 and 2011, going 3-2. His Longhorns lost to the Ducks in 2000.

    THE QBs

    A matchup between Nix and Maye is perfect for a bowl game with a reputation for high-scoring games dating to the early 1980s with BYU’s Jim McMahon and Steve Young. Nix completed 71.5% of his passes for 3,388 yards and 27 touchdowns, with six interceptions. He also ran for 540 yards and 14 more touchdowns. Maye, the ACC Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 4,115 yards and 35 TDs, with seven interceptions.

    OPT OUTS

    Carolina’s leading receiver, Josh Downs, has opted out to prepare for the NFL draft, as has Oregon outside linebacker D.J. Johnson, who had six of the Ducks’ 16 sacks. The Tar Heels have lost several defensive backs to the transfer portal.

    TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLPARK

    The Holiday Bowl moved downtown after its home of 42 years, Qualcomm Stadium, was demolished to make room for a new stadium and campus expansion for San Diego State. Petco Park, which opened in 2004, has hosted a basketball game between San Diego State and the University of San Diego, a Davis Cup tennis match on a clay court between Britain and the United States, as well as soccer, rugby, and various motorsports events. The Padres also host the Links at Petco Park every January, with golfers taking shots onto the playing field from nine tees placed around the ballpark.

    GAP YEARS

    This will be the first Holiday Bowl since Iowa routed USC in 2019. The 2020 Holiday Bowl was canceled due to the pandemic and last year’s game scheduled for Petco Park wasn’t played after UCLA pulled out about five hours before kickoff against North Carolina State, citing a COVID-19 outbreak.

    QUOTABLE

    Brown mused about being routed by Marcus Mariota and the Ducks in the 2013 Alamo Bowl, his last game with Texas. When the Tar Heels and Ducks visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on Monday, Brown toured the ship with Nix and Ducks coach Dan Lanning.

    “Bo was going up the steps in front of me, and I started to grab his ankle,” Brown said with a laugh, “but there were too many cameras. I didn’t want to hurt him bad. It’s just one game. But I’ve been there. God looked at me and said, ‘No, don’t do that.’”

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    AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap—top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2

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