As 2018 concluded, it became quickly apparent that wholesale change was coming to Chapel Hill. It was to the point that after the lackluster loss to N.C. State, fans were already speculating about who would be leading the team going forward. Most were not expecting the return of Mack Brown.
Speculation swirled for a while on who would join Brown, but eventually an almost entirely new coaching staff was assembled, and from there they attacked the recruiting trail. Their work paid immediate dividends in salvaging the 2019 recruiting class, snagging one of the best quarterback prospects in the state in Sam Howell in the process.