North Carolina coaching candidates: Jon Sumrall, Barry Odom, Dan Mullen among options to replace Mack Brown

North Carolina coach Mack Brown will not return in 2025, capping off one of the most legendary careers in college football history. Brown, 74, was one of only three coaches in the FBS who have won a national championship and he became the first UNC coach to ever win 100 games, which was accomplished across two stretches. 

But while Brown leaves big shoes to fill, North Carolina prepares to enter as the top job opening on the market. The Tar Heels have posted 13 winning seasons in the last 16 years and are positioned perhaps as well as anyone in the ACC for the future of college football. 

Whomever takes over at North Carolina will inherit strong recruiting territory, a talented roster and an invested alumni base. Still, there are many different directions athletic director Bubba Cunningham could go — from successful sitting head coaches to an exciting young coordinator up north. 

Here are the top potential candidates to replace Brown at North Carolina. 

North Carolina coaching candidates

Jon Sumrall, Tulane coach: Frankly, Sumrall should already be a power conference coach after leading Troy and Tulane to a combined 32-6 record and 21-2 against conference competition. In his first season, Sumrall has Tulane humming as the AAC favorite and a potential College Football Playoff team. The former Kentucky linebacker comes from a defensive background but also developed NFL running back Kimani Vidal and Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah. The biggest question about Sumrall on this list simply comes down to whether he would take this job now or wait for more opportunities to open, especially at his alma mater.

Barry Odom, UNLV coach: Odom was a solid Missouri coach, earning bowl eligibility three times in four years despite existing NCAA…

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Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2024-11-26 18:42:00

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