The University of North Carolina confirmed this afternoon that Tar Heels assistant football coach Steve Hagen is leaving the program.
Hagen's departure for an assistant coaching position in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns makes him the third coach to leave the staff of UNC coach Butch Davis this offseason. Earlier today, it was confirmed that linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen was leaving UNC to coach the secondary at Auburn.
In a statement released this afternoon, Davis thanked Thigpen and Hagen. (UNC lost special teams coordinator John Lovett to Miami on Thursday.)
"I appreciate everything Tommy Thigpen and Steve Hagen did to help build our program at North Carolina. Both Tommy and Steve made the decision to leave based on what was in the best interest of their families and professional careers. I wish them well in their new positions," Davis said in the release issued by the university. "As I've said before, our assistant coaches will become increasingly more attractive to other programs as we continue to have success. Moving forward, we will bring in outstanding coaches who are excellent teachers and recruiters and who will continue the growth of our program. This is a tremendous opportunity to add to an already outstanding staff."
Assistant sports editor Lorenzo Perez has bounced back-and-forth between The News & Observer's news and sports department several times since joining the newspaper in 1999. His latest assignment has him working with The N&O's ACC writers and online news. E-mail 
Comments
Take the money and run!
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 10:01 — Vegasjoe57In this economy, where the ACC cannot sell out its own legendary round ball tourney, take all the cash you can get and live to breathe easier tomorrow!
If they kept it in North
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 14:20 — JPMajorIf they kept it in North Carolina every year then it would get sold out every year....
Money talks ...
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 23:35 — antgrahamBased on what I've heard, the money attracted all 3 coaches so they left to sign larger contracts. Can you blame them? If you get an opportunity to improve your cash flow in an unstable coaching profession, wouldn't you take it? Get the cash while the getting is good.
Carolina doesn't have the funds to pay a head football coach a large sum AND reward all of his assistants with similar competitive dollar amounts. We're still very much a basketball school but we're moving in the right direction in terms of the football program. However, I still see Carolina's football program as a stepping stone for coaches to better opportunities rather than a final stopping place. Maybe in years to come down the road this perception will change. For now, we're not a desired "final destination" for coaches like a USC (Trojans not the Gamecocks) or Notre Dame or Texas.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Feel free to disagree ...
Seen it before
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 23:27 — HometownThis is being downplayed, but it is a huge blow to Butch's attempt to improve his football team. Losing three assistants at this time will greatly impact spring practice and position meetings. Butch and the coordinators will be distracted from their normal duties by searching for and training the new-hires. It will take the new-hires time to learn the way their new bosses do things. Players will have to learn and get used to new position coaches. Recruiting will be interrupted. Recruiting trail relationships will have to be re-built. This could throw Butch & company back at least two years. Continuity is lost. I've seen it before.
Thigpen got a LOT of money
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 22:45 — jblues1969Word on the street is that Thigpen got a 3 year contract worth more than a million bucks to go to Auburn. Hagen got a huge offer from the Browns that he wasn't expecting. Both of them improved their lot in life by taking the new jobs, which makes UNC look really good for talented coaches looking to better themselves.
Revolving door atmosphere
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 23:32 — HometownAttracting those type of unloyal coaches could be the worst thing for the program. It will create a constant revolving door atmosphere for assistants and the program will actually get worse over time because the sorry assistants stick around and the good ones move on.
My Attention
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 22:38 — rbl1944Yes, Z1234567, your obvious lack of intelligence caught my attention. You might try to make a better impression next time.
DAvis Responds....
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 19:19 — rbl1944Z1234567,
You might want to enroll in a remedial English course in your local community college. I can't imagine how you received a high school diploma with such poor command of the English language.
Hey, at least I got your
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 21:05 — Z1234567Hey, at least I got your attention Butchie or tarhell...
Ha!! Very wise after all.
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 18:47 — Z1234567Ha!! Very wise after all. Jump ship now before it sink. I would do the same if I were in their shoe. Better watch out..... State "Win" is for sure against UNC this year in Raleigh....Butchie and tarhell better watch out for the Dukie, Wake, and especially against ECU this year. Already crooked in recruiting this year. Let's see what you can do with these recruiting class. I heard Butchie chase QB (Sexton) out of town this year to work in his new recruits. If it wasn't for Sexton this past season, Tarhell would not be going to the bowl (because Yates was hurt most of season). Butchie...show some 'Class".
Losing Thigpen is troubling.
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 16:48 — UNC1998He was a natural fit as an UNC coach. I trust Davis to find perfect replacements. To say UNC had mediocre results after only the second season after Davis' arrival seems to be rushing the process a bit, I think. I guess we'll all have to wait and see how it shakes out. I think it will work out in the end.
Yes...
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 17:30 — tjfooseHe traded LB coach at his alma matre to be co-defensive back coach at Auburn.
Word is he did it for $$$$
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 02:52 — UNC1998I ain't saying for sure, but can you blame anybody for that?
Where have I seen this before...
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 16:46 — macarpenGood recruiting results + mediocre on the field results + assistants jumping ship....where have I seen this before?