Mack Brown Resigns as Head Coach of Texas Longhorns
The Texas head coach has stepped down from one of college football’s biggest jobs after 16 seasons. Initially touted for his recruiting prowess, Brown leaves behind a complicated legacy that includes two trips to the national championship game.
Mack Brown, the Texas Longhorns football coach who re-invigorated a storied program and brought it back from the long dark of mediocrity, is resigning as the head coach, UT officials announced today. Brown will coach the Horns in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
“Sally and I were brought to Texas 16 years ago to pull together a football program that was divided,” Brown said in a statement. “With a lot of passion, hard work and determination from the kids, coaches and staff, we did that. We built a strong football family, reached great heights and accomplished a lot, and for that, I thank everyone. It’s been a wonderful ride.”
Brown said that, with the program being pulled in different directions, the time was right for a change. His new boss, Steve Patterson, appeared to agree. After a meeting with Brown and UT president Bill Powers, the three agreed that Brown’s time was over at Texas.
“We appreciate everything Mack has done for The University of Texas,” Patterson said. “He’s been a tremendous coach, mentor, leader, and ambassador for our university and our student-athletes. He is truly a college football legend.” According to Patterson, Brown told him and Powers today that he was ready to move on.
“This is a very difficult day for everyone in The University of Texas family,” Powers said. “Mack Brown is one of the best football coaches in the country, a tremendous representative of our University, and, most importantly, a great friend. He has produced championship teams with tremendous student-athletes and has always done so with the utmost class and integrity. Mack is just the best and he will be missed. With that said, I’m excited for the future and the opportunity to work with him in a new capacity for the years to come and am thrilled that he and Sally will remain part of our family. He is an unbelievable resource for us and will always be a valuable member of the Longhorn community.”
Brown served as head coach of the Texas Longhorn football team since 1998, when he took over from John Mackovic. During Brown’s tenure, the Horns notched notable victories against Michigan in the 2005 Rose Bowl, and returned to Pasadena in January 2006 to beat the Southern California Trojans for the 2005 national title. He was awarded the 2006 Paul W. “Bear” Bryant Award for Coach of the Year, as well as the 2008 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year and the 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.
Brown collected six wins against Big 12 nemesis Oklahoma. Prior to his time in Austin, Brown was head coach at Appalachian State, Tulane, and North Carolina. During his coaching career, he earned 20 consecutive winning seasons, 18 consecutive bowl appearances, and 162 consecutive weeks with Texas ranked in the AP poll from 2000-2010. Brown racked up 153 wins and 45 losses at Texas.
Along with his wife Sally, Brown has been active in the Austin community, including service as honorary co-chairs of the capital campaign for Helping Hands of Austin, and through The Rise School of Austin.
The announcement comes just a few months after DeLoss Dodds, who served as UT’s athletic director, announced his retirement after more than 30 years leading the Texas sports program. Former Arizona State University athletic director Steve Patterson was chosen to take Doss’ place as head of men’s athletics. Like Dodds, Brown will continue with UT in some capacity for the next three years.
Texas Athletics plans a press conference for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Contributing reporting by Andrew Roush. Photo courtesy Jeff Wilson.
