CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina has appointed Freddie Kitchens as the interim head coach for their upcoming bowl game following the dismissal of Mack Brown.

The decision was announced by the university, marking the end of Brown’s tenure as he concluded the regular season with a disappointing 35-30 defeat to their rivals, N.C. State, the previous day. This loss concluded Brown’s second stint with the Tar Heels, where he achieved the distinction of being the program’s all-time winningest head coach at the age of 73.

Last Tuesday, North Carolina informed Brown that he would not continue as head coach for the 2025 season, despite him expressing a desire to coach another year. After the loss against the Wolfpack, he shared that while he was not upset with the decision, he felt let down by how the situation was managed.

At his postgame press conference, he chose not to engage with reporters regarding the decision.

Freddie Kitchens has been serving as the run-game coordinator and tight ends coach at North Carolina over the past two seasons. Prior to that, he held an analyst position at South Carolina. His extensive experience in football includes a 16-year career in the NFL, highlighted by his role as head coach of the Cleveland Browns during the 2019 season.