Mack Brown reflects on Texas tenure: ‘We Got Tired' after 16 years leading Longhorns

USA Today

5 hours ago

Mack Brown reflects on Texas tenure: 'We Got Tired' after 16 years leading Longhorns Brown described the period as 'a long time at a place like Texas.'
With Mack Brown officially entering retirement, presumably for good this time, he's embracing a new chapter as an analyst and podcast guest, reflecting openly on the highs and lows of his storied career.
The 73-year-old has appeared on several podcasts and shows since announcing his retirement from coaching earlier this year. In a recent episode of the "See Ball Get Ball" podcast with former ESPN analyst David Pollack, Brown shared candid insights about his time at Texas and the burnout he experienced before leaving the Longhorns in 2013.
'We got tired at Texas. Sixteen years is a long time at a place like Texas,' Brown said. 'Sally [his wife] always said it's four presidential terms. So that's a long time to be at the University of Texas, so it was probably time for me to leave there and for them to get somebody else new, because you get worn down.'
After departing Texas, Brown transitioned to television, working as an analyst for ESPN and ABC. He quickly found comfort in his new role, traveling for games and studio shows.
'I was with you, with TV, and I really liked it,' Brown told Pollack. 'I enjoyed having a team again. I loved, I was probably crazy, I would go Friday night and do a game or Thursday night, and then get up at 4 in the morning, fly to Bristol, do ABC Countdown to Kickoff all day, then do SportsCenter on Sunday morning before we'd come home. But I loved that.'
Brown emphasized his enduring passion for football and the relationships the sport fostered.
'I loved the game. I loved the coaches. I loved the kids that played the game. And that's really, really important to me, and it's what I want to continue to do, stay involved,' he said.
Despite enjoying his time in broadcasting, Brown realized he wasn't ready to leave coaching behind for good. When North Carolina called in 2018, the decision to return was natural for Brown and his family, who have deep ties to Chapel Hill.
'Sally and I thought we'll only go to a place where we would want to live and we would only go back to a place where we thought we could win within the rules. And North Carolina, we got married there, our kids grew up there. They went to school at North Carolina, some of them. So it was a natural when they called us and asked us to come back,' Brown said.
Brown saw the Tar Heels' struggling program as an opportunity to make a difference.
'I like fixing things, and the program was in a mess,' he said. 'They'd won three games two years before. They'd won two games the year before. Nobody was coming to the games. It was really sad to sit there at ESPN and even watch. … You get into coaching because you can change lives. And that's what's so important. And people forget that.'
Brown's return to North Carolina revitalized the program, leading the Tar Heels to multiple bowl games and national relevance. Now, as he settles into his analyst role once more, Brown remains committed to staying close to the game, though he is uncertain what the future holds.
'I want to continue to be involved,' he said. 'That's what's really important to me.'
With Texas's history of welcoming back legends in advisory roles — like Gary Patterson and Vince Young — speculation has swirled about a possible return for Brown in a special assistant or ambassador capacity. Brown previously held such a role at Texas after stepping down as head coach in 2013, serving as a trusted voice and ambassador for the Longhorns.
A return could benefit both parties: Texas would gain a respected figure to connect with alumni and boosters, while Brown could stay involved with the sport he loves, minus the grind of coaching. At 73, it could be the perfect way for Brown to remain part of Longhorn Nation and be apart of the program's future.
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