All forced exits are awkward, but Mack Brown’s might just top most of them. Just days ahead of UNC’s regular-season finale, the greatest coach in Tar Heels’ football history was politely asked to leave — or, rather, told he would not be returning beyond 2024.

Per the team's official website, they've named Freddie Kitchens as their interim head coach in place of Mack Brown. Brown was fired by North Carolina following their 41-21 loss to Boston College on Nov. 23, and his last day with the program is Sunday, Dec. 1.

North Carolina State defeated rival North Carolina 35-30 on Saturday night in the Tar Heels' final game under coach Mack Brown, and in his news conference, Brown admitted that it was a "great time for me to get out;