University of North Carolina Athletics

The hill is a church – The University of North Carolina football program has made two changes to its defensive coaching staff, head coach Mack Brown Announced on Wednesday. Brown and assistant defense coach Jane Chizik They agreed to part ways, the couple decided after post-season meetings. In addition, chief defense analyst Ted Monachino will assume his duties Tim Cross As a defensive line coach.

“Jane Chizik “He is one of the best football coaches I have ever coached in my 46 years of coaching,” Brown said. “He is a man of faith who has worked tirelessly to provide the best possible training and mentorship to the young men he has coached.” We met extensively after the season, and despite the improvements from last season to this season, we mutually agreed that parting ways would be in the best interest of both him and the program. “I want to thank Gene and his family for everything they do for our program and I wish them nothing but the best.”

“Being a part of 36 wins and two ACC Coastal Championships during my four years at UNC has truly been a blessing,” Chizik said. “Mack Brown I will remain the closest of friends and want to wish all the coaches, players and management the best moving forward. “I love these young men at UNC and will always be grateful that our paths crossed.”

Joint Defense Coordinator Charlton Warren He will remain on staff as assistant head coach for defense and will oversee the defensive backs. A national search will begin immediately to identify and select the program's next defensive coordinator.

Monachino joined the program as a senior defensive analyst prior to the 2023 season and will take over for Cross, who has spent the past five seasons as the defensive line coach.

“I want to thank Coach Cross and his family for everything they do for our program,” Brown added. “He's a great guy and an outstanding football coach. Tim truly cares about the young men he coaches, and you can see that in the relationships he's built with them. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

“As I evaluated the program, I felt it was the right time to make a change at this position. I have been very impressed with Coach Monachino's work ethic and acumen during his first year as an analyst. I believe his depth of experience at the NFL and college levels will be a great asset not only to our line room Defensively, but for our defense as a whole. It's also an added bonus that our players already know him. “I'm excited to see what he can do in this new role.”

Monachino has been coaching for 33 years at all levels of football, including 16 years in the NFL, focusing on outside linebackers and defensive linemen. During his time in the league, Monachino mentored some of the most dynamic pass rushers in the game such as Terrell Suggs, Khalil Mack, Elvis Dumervil, and C.J. Mosley. He won a Super Bowl with the Ravens and served as defensive coordinator for two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

In two years under Monashino, Mack recorded the sixth-most sacks (17.5) and tied for the second-most forced fumbles (eight) among NFL linebackers during that span and earned Pro Bowl honors in each of those Seasons.

While in Baltimore, Monachino elevated the level of his star student, Suggs, whom he also coached at Arizona St. Suggs put together one of his most dominant seasons en route to NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2011. He coached Dumervil to a franchise-record 17.0 sacks and a Pro Bowl appearance, and helped Mosely become the first rookie in franchise history to make the Pro Bowl .

Prior to his tenure in Baltimore, Monachino coached the defensive line for the Jacksonville Jaguars for two seasons (2008-2009) and served as an assistant defensive line coach from 2006-2007.

Monachino coached for five seasons (2001-2005) at Arizona State, where he served as defensive line coach for the Sun Devils. He was pivotal in the development of Suggs, who was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Suggs set the NCAA single-season record for sacks (24.0) and tackles for loss (31.5) in 2002 en route to winning the Bronko Nagurski and Lombardi Awards and the Morris Trophy for the Pac-10's top lineman.

Monashino also had coaching stints at Boise State (2000), Missouri State (1999), James Madison (1998) and Texas Christian (1996-97). He began his coaching career in Missouri at the high school level at Hannibal (Missouri) High School (1994-95) and Pacific (Missouri) High School (1991-93).

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