Tar Heels Fire Football Coach
North Carolina football coach Carl Torbush, who almost lost his job last year, was fired Monday after leading his team to a 6-5 season, the school athletic director said.
Athletic Director Phil Baddour said he would comment on the dismissal later Monday.
Torbush was criticized this season when the Tar Heels suffered a four-game losing streak, but the team came back to win its last three games, including a 59-21 pounding of Duke on Saturday. The other victories came against Pittsburgh and Maryland.
North Carolina began the season with a 3-1 record, then lost consecutive games to Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Clemson and Virginia, giving the Tar Heels a 3-5 record against league rivals. The Tar Heels also lost to national title contender Florida State.
Torbush, who had two years remaining on his five-year contract, had a three-year record of 17-18, including a 3-8 season last year when he was almost fired. He was rehired after an outcry from players, students and fans.
He joined the North Carolina staff in 1988 as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
"I feel sure there will be some discussion to see where everything is," Torbush said Saturday of his job security. "We'll see where everything fits, but I feel good about where we are as a football program and a football team right now."
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