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The longest tenured assistant coach at North Carolina, Ken Browning enters his 15th season with the Tar Heels and second as the running backs coach. Browning has coached on the offensive and defensive side of the ball at UNC, including three seasons as tight ends coach (2001-04) and 11 years as defensive tackles coach (1994-2000, 2005-06). Butch Davis is the fourth head coach Browning has worked under at North Carolina. Browning also oversees Carolina's camps and clinics. Last year, Browning had the unique challenge of coaching a position group comprised of all freshmen and sophomores. In fact, Carolina began 2007 with just one player who had any experience as a college running back. That player was sophomore Richie Rich, who later moved to cornerback. Carolina's top four rushers last season were all freshmen - Johnny White, Greg Little, Anthony Elzy and Ryan Houston. Little started the last two games against Georgia Tech and Duke and enters 2008 as the likely starter. In 14 seasons in Chapel Hill, Browning has developed a number of outstanding players, including fi rst-round NFL draft picks Vonnie Holliday (DT), Marcus Jones (DT/DE) and Ryan Sims (DT) and second-round picks Rick Terry (DT) and Russell Davis (DT). He also recruited and coached 2008 fi rst-round NFL draft pick Kentwan Balmer. Sports Illustrated selected North Carolina's defensive tackles in its positional "Dream Team" in its 1998 preseason college football issue. Nearly every defensive tackle Browning coached at UNC has been drafted by or signed by an NFL franchise. In 2002, Sims, who played under Browning for three years, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round with the No. 6 pick. Browning is in his second stint coaching on the offensive side of the ball at UNC. He coached Carolina's tight ends for four sea- sons (2001-04), where he developed several standout players, including NFL players Zach Hilton and Bobby Blizzard. With Browning on the defensive side of the ball, the Tar Heels led the ACC in total defense from 1995-97 and finished No. 2 in the nation in yards allowed in 1996 and 1997. The Tar Heels were third in the country against the run in 1996 allowing 73.9 yards per game. In 1997, Carolina was fourth in the nation stopping the run as opponents averaged 77.9 yards per contest. UNC held opponents to less than 50 yards rushing in six games and less than 100 yards in nine of 12 games. Promoted to defensive coordinator in 2000, Browning directed a UNC squad that set a school record with an ACC-best 53 sacks. Carolina finished 19th in the nation against the run, allowing just 103.5 yards per game, and was second in the league and 30th in the nation in total defense. One of the state's most decorated high school coaches, Browning joined the Tar Heel staff in 1994 as the defensive tackles coach and has coached in some of the most memorable Carolina football games in his 13 years on the staff. He has been a part of seven bowl games at UNC and was on the staff in 1996-97 when UNC had a combined record of 21-3 and finished ranked in the top 10 both seasons. Browning was the head coach and athletic director at Northern High School for 18 years. He posted a 178-35 record and won the 1993 4-A state title and Shrine Bowl. Over his last three years, Northern built a 43-2 record and he was named the North Carolina Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 1992 and 1993. He became only the third coach to win both the state title and Shrine Bowl in the same year. Browning and his wife, Susan, have three sons -Chuck, John and Joe. The Browning File |
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