Could Mack Brown be the man to rescue UNC? Posted Aug 8, 2011 Mack Brown returning to North Carolina makes sense in some ways because of his previous ties there. He coached UNC from 1988 to 1997 and took the football program out of basketball's shadow. At Carolina, Brown could be the athletic director and hand-pick his football coach. Or he could serve both roles while grooming a coach-in-waiting. As an athletic director, Brown would be a tireless administrator and a brilliant fund-raiser. (Fox Sports Southwest)