North Carolina hires special teams coordinator Posted Feb 8, 2007 North Carolina hired John Lovett as its special teams coordinator and defensive assistant on Wednesday. Lovett joins the Tar Heels after two seasons as defensive coordinator at Bowling Green. He has 18 years of experience as a defensive coordinator and has coached at Clemson, Auburn and Mississippi. Butch Davis also said Tommy Thigpen will coach linebackers while Kenny Browning is in charge of running backs. (Wilmington Star News)