North Carolina announced the firing of football coach Mack Brown on Tuesday morning, days before the Tar Heels' regular-season finale against NC State on Saturday.

And at least one high-ranking UNC official is not happy about it.

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"There was a better way to handle this that did not result in the Carolina football program, its players, coaches and staff being thrown into turmoil three days before their biggest rival game," John Preyer, the chairman of the UNC Board of Trustees, told WRAL in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

Brown, 73, will coach the game against NC State. He is the school's all-time leader in wins with 113 victories in 16 years over two stints with the Tar Heels. Brown is in his sixth season since returning to Chapel Hill. UNC has reached a bowl game in each of those seasons.

UNC is 6-5 this season. NC State is 5-6 and needs a victory to become bowl eligible.

"Sally and Mack Brown have given far more to Carolina football and to the University of North Carolina than it has given to them — and all Tar Heels should be forever grateful," Preyer said.

The announcement came one day after Brown said he intended to return to UNC next season. Athletics director Bubba Cunningham informed Brown, who had three years left on his contract, on Monday.

In a statement announcing the decision, Cunningham praised Brown's on-field and off-field success at UNC.

"We deeply appreciate all he has done for Carolina Football and our University," Cunningham said.

Some members of the board have been at odds with Cunningham, airing complaints about the fiscal management of the department in a public meeting in May.

Preyer hinted at a divide among the UNC fan base or leadership structure.

"There must be a fair and transparent process for selecting the next head coach or else the broad base of support needed to sustain the program may not be there," he said.

Chancellor Lee Roberts, then the interim, publicly defended Cunningham after the board criticism.

"Our athletic director is one of the most senior well respected, well regarded, admired athletic directors in the country," Roberts said. "He has broad respect from his peers and we don't have a more capable, more experienced more talented senior administrator here at Carolina.”