Arthur Smith's alma mater is going to have to wait.
The Steelers offensive coordinator, who had been under consideration for the position of new head football coach at the University of North Carolina, is staying with Pittsburgh and will be there for the foreseeable future.
Smith recently informed UNC that he should not be considered a candidate, sources say.
North Carolina announced on Nov. 26 that legendary coach Mack Brown would not return for the 2025 season. The 73-year-old, in his second stint with the school, lost, 35-30, against N.C. State on Saturday to finish the season 6-6.
A 2005 graduate who also served as a graduate assistant under John Bunting, Smith made a ton of sense for the Tar Heels. Smith is said to still have strong feelings for the school and, perhaps if the situation were different, it would be a different story.
But timing-wise, it just doesn't make sense for Smith, who is thriving as Steelers OC, having helped Russell Wilson resurrect his career for the 8-3 team that visits the Bengals on Sunday.
In fact, the former Falcons head coach is likely to get consideration for NFL head coaching jobs this cycle.
While Smith is said to be happy the school reached out, he has no plans to leave the NFL any time soon. That was made clear to UNC reps.
"I appreciate it, love that place. But that's not my focus," Smith told reporters on Thursday about UNC's preliminary phone call this week. "I've got one of the best jobs in football right now. There's a lot to be said too about (how you) can't put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here."
