Kenan Stadium Tour
Hal Hunter enters his fourth season as Carolina's offensive line coach.
The Tar Heel offensive line has developed into one of the top units in the league unter Hunter's tutelage and last season, three players earned All-ACC accolades, including first-team center Jason Brown, second-team guard Kyle Ralph and honorable-mention tackle Willie McNeill. In addition, Brown earned All-America honors and was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, which is awarded to the nation's top center. Brown was selected in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
In 2003, second-team All-ACC guard Jeb Terry became the first Tar Heel offensive lineman drafted since 1992 when he was selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL draft. Terry also was a standout in the classroom, twice earning Academic All-ACC honors.
Carolina's offensive line has paved the way for more than 150 rushing yards per game in each of the last two seasons. In 2004, the Tar Heels averaged 176.2 yards rushing per game, the highest mark since 1994, and were second in the league in total offense (390.7 yards/game). In addition, Carolina was second in the league in sacks allowed.
In Hunter's first season at UNC, the Tar Heel offense set several school passing records, including passing yards per game, completions and attempts. The Tar Heels finished 22nd in the country in passing offense (266.6 yards per game).
Hunter came to Carolina after two seasons as Indiana's offensive coordinator where he led the Hoosiers to two of their most successful offensive seasons ever. Under his guidance, the Hoosiers averaged more than 435 yards per game in each of the last two years and finished in the top 20 in total offense in both seasons.
In 2000, Hunter designed an offense to fit the skills of talented quarterback Antwaan Randle El, who was named Big Ten Player of the Year and earned first-team All-America honors. Indiana led the Big Ten and finished fourth in the nation in rushing offense (averaging 269.5 yards per game), was 19th in the country in total offense, rushed for 33 touchdowns and allowed just nine sacks in 11 games. IU became only the second school in Big Ten history to have two 3,000-yard career rushers on the same team (Randle El and Levron Williams).
The previous season (2000), Hunter's first at IU, the Hoosiers were seventh in the country in rushing offense, averaging 266.4 yards per game, and 12th in the nation in total offense despite starting an entirely new offensive line. Indiana led the Big Ten in rushing offense and finished second nationally in yards per carry (5.8), trailing only Nebraska.
Prior to his time at Indiana, Hunter spent a successful five-year stint as offensive line coach at LSU from 1995-99 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 1999. Hunter also served as the interim head coach at LSU for one game in 1999. At LSU he developed one of the Southeastern Conference's most dominant offensive lines as the Tigers led the SEC in rushing in both 1997 and 1998. In 1997, he was credited with the development of Outland Trophy finalist Alan Faneca, a two-time All-America selection and 1998 first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. That same year, LSU's offensive line also featured first-team All-SEC and All-America center Todd McClure, a 1999 draft selection of the Atlanta Falcons. In his one game as interim head coach, Hunter led the Tigers to a season-ending 35-10 win over Arkansas. Athlon magazine recognized Hunter as the SEC's top offensive line coach in 1997.
Prior to arriving at LSU, Hunter served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt from 1991-94, tutoring the Commodores' tackles and tight ends for three seasons. In 1994, he was placed in charge of the entire offensive line. Vanderbilt ranked second in the SEC in rushing in 1991, 1992 and 1994.
Before heading to Vanderbilt, Hunter spent four seasons as the offensive line coach at Akron.
Hunter is a 1982 graduate of Northwestern, where he earned Dean's List honors and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class with a 3.6 GPA. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications studies with a concentration in economics. He lettered at linebacker for the Wildcats in 1978, but a neck injury prematurely ended his career. Hunter stayed with the program and assisted with the defensive line and served as a strength coach.
In 1982, he coached outside linebackers and was the strength coach at William & Mary. Hunter also has coached the offensive line at Pittsburgh (1983-84), Columbia (1985) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1986).
Hunter's father, Hal Sr., has over 45 years of experience in college and professional football and is currently the pro personnel coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.
