June 9, 2026

Charlotte Touchdown Club and Football Writers Association of America Announce the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet Keynote Speaker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  John Rocco, Executive Director, Charlotte Touchdown Club, (704) 347-2918

Former UNC Tar Heels & 2005 Texas Longhorns National Champion Head Coach Mack Brown Named Keynote Speaker for 2026 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet presented by Coca-Cola Consolidated

Charlotte, N.C. (June 2, 2026) – The Charlotte Touchdown Club in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, officially announced today Mack Brown, College Football Legendary Head Coach, as Keynote Speaker for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet scheduled for Monday, December 7th.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club, in partnership with the Football Writers Association of America, is honored to welcome college football legendary head coach, Mack Brown, as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet,” said John Rocco, Executive Director of the Charlotte Touchdown Club. “We look forward to hearing from Coach Brown and celebrating the announcement of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner at our prestigious black-tie gala on December 7th.”

A 47-year veteran of collegiate coaching, Mack Brown served as a head coach for 36 seasons with stops at Texas (1998-2013), North Carolina (1988-97, 2019-24), Tulane (1985-87), and Appalachian State (1983). Over his 36 seasons, Brown posted a record of 288-155-1 (.650). Those 288 career victories rank seventh on the FBS all-time list. The 2005 Paul W. “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year and the 2008 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year, Brown is one of a handful of coaches in college football history to lead two separate programs to Top-Five national finishes and he’s the only coach to win 100 games at two FBS schools.

During Brown’s final season at North Carolina in 2024, the Tar Heels finished the regular season 6-6, having qualified for a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season, which is the second-longest streak in Carolina football history. Brown’s group was also excellent in the classroom, tying for third nationally and leading the ACC in APR.

Following the ’97 regular season, Brown was hired to be the head coach of the Texas Longhorns on Dec. 4, 1997 and spent the next 16 seasons in Austin (1998-2013). With a mark at Texas of 158-48 (.767), the 2008 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year and the 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year elevated the Longhorns program to new heights. During his tenure, the Longhorns won the 2005 BCS National Championship and two conference titles, while winning or sharing Big 12 South Division titles six times. Brown’s 158 wins at Texas were the fourth-most in the nation from 1998-2013.

Brown took over a UT program that managed at least 10 wins just three times in the 16 years prior to his arrival in 1998, but did so nine times in his 16 seasons, including a streak of nine consecutive that is the third-longest in NCAA history. Brown also led the Longhorns to six seasons of at least 11 wins.

Under Brown, Texas won nine of its last 12 bowl games and had a 10-5 record overall, including a UT record streak of 12 consecutive bowl appearances. In the 16 years prior to Brown’s arrival, Texas went to nine bowls and was 2-7. The 10 bowl wins are the most in Texas history, eclipsing Darrell Royal’s eight. In addition, the streak included a BCS National Championship, another BCS National Championship Game appearance and three BCS Bowl wins.

During Brown’s tenure in Austin, the Horns finished the year ranked in the Top 15 for 10 straight seasons from 2000-09. They also had seven Top-10 finishes and five Top-Five rankings. Prior to Brown’s arrival, the last time Texas had finished the year in the Top 10 was 1983. In addition, from 1998-2013, Texas led the nation in all-time appearances in the BCS rankings with 104, ahead of both Oklahoma (100) and Florida (92).

One of the most respected coaches in the game, Brown has served on numerous national committees, including president of the American Football Coaches Association. He has also served on the AFCA Ethics Committee and the AFCA Public Relations Committee. Brown has been a member of the NCAA Football Rules Committee and the NCAA Football Issues Committee. He has been chairman of the Football Coaches’ Committee and a member of the Board of Directors of the College Football Association. Brown has been invited to coach in five postseason all-star games, including the Japan Bowl, Hula Bowl (twice) and East-West Shrine Game (twice). In March 2013, Brown was named the 2013 recipient of the Neyland Trophy, awarded annually by the Knoxville Quarterback Club for contributions to collegiate athletics.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (75) companies. The Club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club’s scholarship efforts.

About Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc.

Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably. For over 121 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia, to approximately 60 million consumers. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE”. More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca-Cola Consolidated on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at [email protected].

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is presented annually by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America to the nation’s most outstanding NCAA defensive football player at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C. All proceeds benefit the Charlotte Touchdown Club Scholarship Fund. For more information call 704-347-2918 or www.touchdownclub.com.