Mack is Back
Former UT coach Mack Brown returns to college football as TV personality
Just because Mack Brown is retired from the sidelines doesn’t mean the former head coach of the Texas Longhorns is quitting the world of college football entirely. ESPN and ABC have confirmed that Brown will be joining both networks as a college football analyst when the 2014 season kicks off, appearing mostly on Saturday studio programs.
Brown landed one of the cushiest gigs in college football coverage — a fitting job for a coach who won two Big 12 championships and one BCS national championship. Brown will appear on ABC’s College Football Countdown alongside former Florida State quarterback Danny Kanell and host John Saunders. The program usually airs at 2 pm and leads into ABC’s popular Saturday Night Football, which will also feature Brown.
In addition to College Football Countdown and Saturday Night Football, Brown will cover all Saturday ABC game telecasts. And fans can bet they’ll see the former UT coach across the rest of the ESPN/ABC sports programs, including SportsCenter, College Football Live, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and more.
Known for his media savvy and folksy charm, there have long been rumors Brown would head to television after he stepped down as head coach of the Longhorns. According to USA Today, ESPN began talks with Brown about his post-coaching career almost three years ago during the launch of the Longhorn Network. On Thursday, Brown tweeted his excitement over finally closing the deal on his new career.
I am excited to join ESPN/ABC this fall to share my passion for CFB with the fans. I look forward to giving a look "behind the scenes"
— Mack Brown (@UT_MackBrown) July 24, 2014ESPN also announced the hire of former coach Butch Davis as an analyst. Both Davis and Brown spent time as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Brown is scheduled to make his first official appearance on ESPN on August 10 when he joins Kanell and studio host Rece Davis in a report from Ohio State.
