Asked who would replace newly-fired Butch Davis as head coach, UNC spokesman Kevin Best said that would be addressed at Thursday morning’s 11 a.m. news conference.
But currently on staff, candidates could include:
· Sam Pittman, the offensive line coach who was recently promoted to associate head coach. One of Davis’ first hires in Chapel Hill, the new title technically put Pittman second in charge of the team. But if school officials want to break with Davis’ decisions, they may opt to go another route.
· Everett Withers, defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Entering his fourth season at UNC, he’s never been a head coach, but could appeal to fans because he has 24 years of experience and is an in-state product (born in Charlotte, played at Appalachian State).
· John Shoop, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He’s a former NFL assistant who coached former Tar Heel signal caller to 40 school records before he was drafted into the NFL, Shoop has never been a head coach.
· Ken Browning, the running backs coach who begins his 18th season at UNC. Browning, a former high school coach at Northern Durham, has been through multiple coaching changes in Chapel Hill – and is the only assistant left on staff that Davis didn’t originally hire. Fans would certainly embrace the move, but at age 65, it’s unclear whether Browning would want the responsibilities of a program under fire – even in an “interim” role.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Don't expect...
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:49 — Heels20...a big name. Leach's lawsuit makes him to controversial. We won't be able to afford a big name, and Thorp/the board are afraid of big-time football. They don't want to hire anyone from Butch's staff, but it'll be interesting to see what happens if Carolina wins 8+ this season.
Just throwing this out there
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 15:38 — ProwlingWoofieJust throwing this out there - what about the coach at Richmond ?
Don't know anything about him, except that he's built a solid program with the Spiders. Could he be ready for a step up ?
Don't laugh - Lou Holtz came to State from William & Mary !
I was thinking
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 15:56 — gvillegatrHe went to another school after last season ?
Mike London
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:19 — JPDOhioTook over at UVa last year.
The Perfect Hire
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 13:16 — bobmacIn order to restore the reputation of a great university & repair the damage left by Butch "Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil" Davis, the Board of Trustees is left with only one choice. Follow the lead of 3 other great schools in our conference and offer the job to a present or former assistant coach who served under the tutelage of Tom O'Brien. The only remaining question about this move is how many would have to be offered before one accepted or if any at all would accept the job. If UNC could pull this off, then it could be called the perfect hire.
I think what Walt meant was
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 09:06 — growupI think what Walt meant was Pittman is linked to Blake. That would be a crazy interim hire. Better hope Browning has the stomach to oversee the steering out of this mess.
Blue zone
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 22:12 — gvillegatrGot tickets to the Louisville game this Fall in the Blue Zone with food and whatever. I wonder if the four of us we'll be eating alone ...
new UNC coach
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 22:12 — igliigliHow about no-body and let UNC concentrate on its real mission, education.
College sports, the biggest taxpayer and student rip-off around.
Why don't they
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 21:54 — UNC1998just visit the nearest church and hire the old lady playing the organ? UNC better play this right. If there are any others like me then some $$ might be riding on it. I'm no big donor, but I give enough. If others in my position are of the same mind... the loss of money might add up. UNC better look for the best option out there, and get him here. I fully expect an assistant to coach this coming season, but there better be some calls made, and groundwork laid. UNC better do this right.
You are probably right
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 22:10 — JPDOhioOhio State is going with an assistant coach this year and will hire a permanent coach after the season is over. This close to the start of the season, I don't see any other reasonable option for UNC.
Let's go fishing
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 21:39 — gvillegatrAny chance of getting the new age Pirate in 2012 ? Hell, he's available right now. UNC has to be better right now than what he walked into at TT over ten years ago. I believe they were on probation as well ? Could be wrong ... Dan ?
No idea about Leach @ Texas
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 00:00 — danofncNo idea about Leach @ Texas Tech, and too lazy to look it up.
I would imagine there is close to zero chance he gets hired at UNC. He left TT under a cloud of suspicion, and is currently involved in a lawsuit against them, right?
I doubt UNC fires one controversial coach just to turn around and hire another.
Most likely, they'll make one of the coordinators interim HC, he'll do a decent job, and be a strong candidate. Then, UNC admin will have to decide if they want to really clean house or not.
If they go outside "the family", I would expect guys like Tyrone Willingham to be considered.
I was being smart
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 11:01 — gvillegatrYou always think I'm wrong. Tyrone Willingham ? Are you kidding me !?
I didn't say it would *be*
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 11:12 — danofncI didn't say it would *be* him.
Willingham has won at schools that have very good academic reputations. I expect UNC to hire someone similar.
They won't hire anyone who has been controversial.
Would you prefer if I said they'd pick one out of two former ECU coaches and Bud Foster.
In short
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 15:54 — gvillegatrYes.
What's wrong with Leach. He constantly had the highest graduation rate in the nation. He was only controversial bc two people thought he was: his last of seven Presidents at TT who wasn't kosher with his contract and Craig James.
And if you want to talk about him suing TT, it's all come out as BS. It was a smear campaign. Adam James said he made all the stuff up and walked n2 the utility closet when told not to. The Independent lawyer who talked to Leach advised TT not to fire him bc it was all made up.
Whether or not Leach puts his name in the hat is another subject.
Willingham
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 00:28 — Heels20would never be hired by Carolina.
Coach
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 07:58 — YAR8packIt ain't gonna be Urban Meyer. It ain't gonna be John Gruden. I ain't gonna be Jim Tressel. If Kevin Wilson has a good year at Indiana, maybe. Other than that, unc will and probably should be looking for a Jim Harbaugh clone. Hell, maybe Bud Foster finally leaves the Va Tech fold.
Never said it would be any of those
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:46 — Heels20But Willingham would make zero sense.
Nor
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 16:57 — YAR8packNor did I infer that you did say it would be any of those. I'm just stating the obvious. Not pointing my "guns" toward you.
Fair enough
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 21:13 — Heels20Here's to Coach Withers.
I guess Izzy's comment about racism made the difference in this decision.
Anybody who wasn't
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 20:29 — Walt_in_Durhamon Davis staff looks like a better candidate for interim head coach. Sam Pittman is ranked by ESPN as one of the top 25 recruiters in college football. That makes him part of the problem, not a part of the solution.
Walt-in-Durham
?
Wed, 07/27/2011 - 21:32 — Heels20That made absolutely no sense at all whatsoever.
Oh, and yeah, I get it. He's a good recruiter so he must cheat. Then let's fire all the top recruiters in the country. Sounds like a good solution to me.
As John Blake's right-hand
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 15:31 — ProwlingWoofieAs John Blake's right-hand man, Carolina should sever their connection with Pittman as soon as possible. Whether he's dirty or not, the constant speculation of whether he was in contact with Blake or not would haunt the program and continue to poison it.
If he's a legit coach and recruiter, that's too bad - consider it another cost of doing business with Chief Know Nothing.