North Carolina football coach Mack Brown says the Tar Heels will not replace departed Corey Holliday and Sparky Woods, but would instead restructure and delegate responsibilities to other current staff members. Brown highlighted Patrick Suddes, the general manager of UNC’s football program, as someone who will be given additional responsibilities.
“We’re just going to restructure and work within the building as much as we can to move things around,” Brown explained Wednesday afternoon at Kenan Football Center. “A lot of staff people will be given additional responsibility, beginning with Pat Suddes, who does such an excellent job for us. But we’ll just make it function within the facility, with other people doing a variety of tasks.”
Inside Carolina reported last week that Woods, a 70-year-old college football veteran, is departing the UNC staff to pursue other coaching opportunities. He has served as a senior advisor to the Tar Heels’ head coach since January 2019. Woods has over 40 years of college coaching experience, including stints as head coach at Appalachian State (1984-88), South Carolina (1989-93), and VMI (2008-14).
Last week, Brown announced that former UNC star linebacker Brian Simmons will join the Tar Heels football staff as a senior assistant to the head coach and professional liaison. Simmons, a 10-year NFL veteran who later worked as an NFL scout for eight years, will take over senior advisor duties from Darrell Moody, who is retiring at the age of 75.
Holliday will retire after 23 years with the UNC athletics department. He has been the Tar Heels’ associate athletic director for football administration since 2006, making him one of the program’s most influential supervisors. Holliday was a standout receiver for UNC from 1989 to 1993 before moving on to play four seasons in the NFL with the Steelers. He appeared in Super Bowl XXX and recorded two catches and two special teams tackles against the Dallas Cowboys.
“He decided he wanted to spend more time with his younger son, who’s a professional soccer player,” Brown said a news conference on Wednesday. “It’s emotional for me because he was a terrific player, captain, and leader, and now he’s one of the top leaders in our building for our football program. So incredibly proud of him.”
UNC’s spring practice session begins on March 19, with the spring game slated for April 20 at 3 p.m. at Kenan Stadium.
Holliday ended his college career as UNC’s all-time top receiver. His 2,447 yards rank fifth in school history, while his 155 receptions rank ninth. From 1990 to 1993, he caught at least one pass in 45 consecutive games for the Tar Heels, an ACC record.
