North Carolina will usher in a new era after announcing Tuesday that head coach Mack Brown will not return next season.
So, where do the Tar Heels turn next as they move on from the winningest coach in program history?
Athletic director Bubba Cunningham got a head start on the process with the Tar Heels, the first program from a power conference to part ways with their head coach this season.
Here are five potential top candidates for an appealing opportunity to take over a quality ACC program:
Matt Campbell, Iowa State
It wouldn’t be a coaching cycle if Campbell’s name wasn’t tied to a vacancy at a prominent program. Still just 44 years old, Campbell is already in his ninth season in Ames, where he has posted a 62-50 record. That includes a 9-2 mark this season. The Ohio native and three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year has rebuffed numerous overtures in the past to move on from Iowa State, but that won’t stop other programs from continuing to knock on his door.
Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
The well-traveled Chadwell has had his name tied to UNC as a potential replacement for Brown for some time. He spent stints at Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina, among other stops, before taking over at Liberty, where he has posted a 21-3 record and led the Flames to a spot in last season’s Fiesta Bowl after going 13-0 in the regular season. The Tennessee native led Coastal Carolina to an 11-0 start and as high as No. 9 in the Associated Press poll in 2020 before a bowl game loss to Liberty, somewhat ironically. Chadwell was named the AP College Coach of the Year following the season — a first for the Sun Belt Conference.
Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State (OC)
Kotelnicki lacks head coaching experience, but the 43-year-old is considered one of the brightest young offensive minds in college football. Before landing at Penn State this year, Kotelnicki served as the offensive coordinator at Buffalo (2015-2020) and Kansas (2021-23). A center for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the Minnesota native began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at Western Illinois in 2004.
Alex Golesh, South Florida
Another highly respected offensive mind, Golesh took over a program that went 1-11 the year before his arrival. The Bulls went 7-6 in his first season and are 6-5 so far this year. Despite being just 40 years old, he would provide UNC with head coaching experience following time as an assistant at Tennessee, Iowa State, UCF and Illinois. Golesh has a fascinating background, having attended Ohio State after being born in Moscow and growing up in Brooklyn before his family moved to Dublin, Ohio. He began his coaching career as a high school defensive line coach in 2003.
Barry Odom, UNLV
Odom, 47, has lifted the Rebels to arguably the best level in program history in just two seasons. UNLV is 9-2 this year with a shot at making the College Football Playoff, and is 18-7 over the past two seasons. Odom, who took over at his alma mater at Missouri following the retirement of Gary Pinkel, got his second crack at a head coaching gig after doing a remarkable job as Arkansas’ defensive coordinator from 2020-22. With his track record, Odom could have his pick of multiple openings as more Power Four vacancies become available over the next several weeks.
–Field Level Media
