Legendary coach Mack Brown returns to Independence Bowl

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — College Football Hall of Fame Coach Mack Brown will be the featured speaker at the 15th Annual Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Kickoff Dinner.

Coach Brown, a two-time Coach of the Year and BCS National Champion, coached Tulane in the Independence Bowl in 1987. In 2025, he returns to kick off the season.

Coach Brown spent 36 years as a head coach in his 47-year coaching career, first with Appalachian State in 1983.

He followed Appalachian State with a stint at Tulane from 1985 to 1987. During his time there, Coach Brown improved the Green Wave from 1-10 in his first season to 6-5 just two years later.

Two stints at North Carolina (1988-1997 and 2019-2014) followed. From 1988 to 1997, the Tar Heels had a 69-46-1 record, three 10-win seasons, and made six consecutive bowl games. The team had a Top-Five finish, a Top-10 finish, and two Top-20 finishes. From 2019 to 2024, Brown rejuvenated UNC again, taking them from a two-win season the year before his return to six consecutive bowl games and compiling a 44-33 record.

Between his two tenures at North Carolina, he coached the University of Texas from 1998 to 2013. That stint included his two Coach of the Year Awards and the 2005 National Championship, a game widely regarded as one of the best ever. He’s also the only coach in college history to win 100 games at two FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) schools and one of the few to lead two programs to Top Five finishes.

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“I can’t wait to kick off the season at the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Kickoff Dinner,” said Brown. “It will be an exciting way to start the 2025 college football season.”

Previous kickoff speakers include Terry Bradshaw, Bobby Bowden, Lou Holtz, Jason Witten, Emmitt Smith, Archie Manning, Herschel Walker, Steve Spurrier, Drew Brees, Devin White, Marcus Spears, Kim Mulkey, Paul Skenes, and Holly Rowe. 

The Independence Bowl is the 11th most historic bowl game. In the most recent edition, Army West Point defeated Louisiana Tech on December 28, 2024, in the 48th edition of the game.