Mack Brown counted on Michael Bolognesi at defensive back at the University of North Carolina during the early 1990s. On Monday, the North Carolina football coach counted on his former player to replace his right knee.
Brown, 67, who is beginning his second stint as the Tar Heels' coach, had knee replacement surgery at Duke University Hospital, UNC spokesman Jeremy Sharpe told ESPN on Tuesday.
Bolognesi, who played at North Carolina from 1989 to 1993 and lettered his senior season, said the surgery will not affect his summer schedule. Brown was discharged from a hospital several hours after the procedure, Fox News reported
"The surgery went really well with no issues or complications and he'll begin a standard rehabilitation program in Chapel Hill immediately," Bolognesi said in a statement. "We don't expect there to be any need to alter his summer schedule as it relates to team and football operations."
"First off, how cool is it that one of our former players replaced my knee yesterday," Brown said in a statement. "We talk about building young men so they can be productive husbands, fathers and citizens. Carolina produces a lot of special people and I'm happy we were able to play a small part in Mike's development because we counted on him and he, along with the rest of the surgical and anesthetic team, did a tremendous job."
Bolognesi played his senior season for Brown in 1993, when the Tar Heels went 9-3 and ended its season with a 21-17 victory against Mississippi State on Jan. 2, 1993, in the Peach Bowl.
Brown previously coached at North Carolina from 1988 to 1997, according to the university’s football media guide. He returned to Chapel Hill and was hired in November to replace Larry Fedora, who was fired.
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