Mack Brown of North Carolina was “disappointed in myself” about the loss to James Madison and how he dealt with it

Two days after North Carolina's 70-50 home loss to James Madison – after which coach Mack Brown reportedly told players he would “step back and leave if he was the problem” – Brown told reporters he was “disappointed in myself” both for UNC's performance on Saturday and for how it handled the loss.

“I don't handle defeat well,” Brown said. “When I left the field, I thought, 'I'm responsible for all of this, it's on me, so I should ask the players about their leadership – if they make me feel good in the future.' I shouldn't do that; I shouldn't put pressure on these young guys at this point. I'm supposed to be a leader.”

Brown's postgame comments in the UNC locker room were first reported by 247Sports, leading to speculation that the 73-year-old may soon retire.

As for his comments to players after the game, Brown said Monday that “things used to stay in the locker room,” but he reiterated that he was “excited about the future” of the program.

“I love my job, I love these kids, I love this place and that's why I hate to lose so much,” Brown said.

Brown is in the sixth season of his second tenure as coach of the Tar Heels – he led the program from 1988 to 1997 before leaving for Texas – and has a 41-28 record since returning to Chapel Hill in 2019. After signing a one-year contract extension in February 2023, Brown is tied to the program through the 2027 season.

GO DEEPER

JMU dominates North Carolina with historic 53-point first half

James Madison's 70 points on Saturday were the most UNC has ever allowed in a game (East Carolina, 2014). The Dukes' 53 first-half points were the most the Tar Heels have ever allowed in a half, the most points JMU has ever scored in a half and the most points a Group of 5 team has scored in a half against a Power 4 opponent since 2012, according to TruMedia.

“An embarrassing day. A shocking day. You shouldn't be in North Carolina and lose to a Group of Five team, period,” Brown told reporters after the game. “There are no excuses.”

North Carolina started 3-0 on Saturday, seeking its fifth winning season since Brown's return. Although the Tar Heels started the preseason as a top-25 team in three seasons and were ranked as high as No. 5 in 2020, they finished a season in the top 25 in this second tenure under Brown.

Brown's return to North Carolina came nearly five years after he resigned from Texas following a 16-year stint in Austin, where he led the Longhorns to the 2005 national title and won the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award. In 2018, 10 months before his tenure at North Carolina, Brown was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

UNC plays at Duke on Saturday.

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(Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images)