As the Rams' co-defensive coordinator (along with Peter Giunta), he played a key role in leading that team to their victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

In December 2000, UNC athletic director Dick Baddour decided to hire him as the school's head football coach, replacing the fired Carl Torbush.

In his first game as head coach, the Tar Heels beat nine-time defending ACC champion Florida State 41–9; the Seminoles were ranked sixth in the AP Poll at the time.

In 2004, the Tar Heels defeated Miami 31–28 on a last-second field goal by Connor Barth; the Hurricanes were ranked fourth at the time in the AP poll.

His last home victory on November 18, 2006, against North Carolina State University, broke a seven-game losing streak, and he was able to close out his career one week later with a 45–44 win over the Duke Blue Devils.