Jay Bateman Out as UNC Football Defensive Coordinator
After a disappointing 6-7 season, the first dominoes of UNC head coach Mack Brown's coaching staff have collapsed. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will not return to the team next season, as first reported by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.
Under Bateman, the Carolina defense struggled strongly in 2021, allowing opponents to score 32.1 points per game, ranking 105th out of 130 teams in FBS college football. The running defense allowed 180 yards per game on the ground, finishing 97th. Its struggle was never more apparent than in a humble defeat at Duke's Mayo Bowl in South Carolina in December. Gamecock, playing with a wide receiver converted to quarterback, reached more than 300 yards over the Tar Heels in a 38-21 beatdown.
The Tar Heels scored 30 or more points nine times in 13 games this season. Twice out of four they did not come against Georgia State and Wofford. The worst stretch came between October 16 and November 6, when UNC awarded Miami, Notre Dame and Wake Forest scores 42, 44 and 55, respectively. Ironically, the Tar Heels went 2-1 on that three-game stretch.
At the time of his recruitment by UNC in December 2018, Bateman was the defensive coordinator in the Army, where his unit was ranked in the top 10 in the country. His defense at Carolina showed slight improvement during his first two years, even finishing fifth in the nation. 36 sacks in 2020. But the unit took a major step forward in 2021, necessitating a change in leadership.
The exit of special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Jovan DeWitt was almost immediately after Bateman's departure. 2021 was DeWitt's second season with the Tar Heels.
"We appreciate everything Coach Bateman, Coach DeWitt and their families have done for the program," the UNC Football Program said in a statement. "And we wish them nothing but success as they transition to their next opportunities."
Bateman and DeWitt leave Carolina's defensive coaching staff with only three holdovers, though that number could certainly change. Tommy Thigpen is the co-defensive coordinator and also coaches inside linebackers, while Dre Bailey cornerbacks and Tim Cross coach the defensive line.
