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James Webster Jr., a former Carolina teammate of Head Coach John Bunting, begins his third season as the assistant head coach and first as special teams coordinator. Webster, who is in his 26th season as a college coach, was the first assistant coach added to Bunting's staff.
Webster was elevated to special teams coordinator in the offseason after coaching defensive ends the previous two years.
Like Bunting, Webster came to North Carolina in 1968 and started at linebacker for three consecutive seasons. Although the two stayed in contact after leaving the University, Webster and Bunting did not actually see each other again until the summer of 1999 at the St. Louis Rams' preseason workouts where Bunting was serving as defensive coordinator. Webster spent the summer with Bunting and the Rams, watching and learning the NFL practice routine.
In his first season back in Chapel Hill since 1973, Webster had an immediate impact on the defense and specifically, the defense ends. Carolina led the ACC and was 15th in the country in total defense in 2001, led by one of the top defensive lines in the nation.
Under Webster's tutelage, defensive end Julius Peppers won both the 2001 Lombardi and Bednarik Awards, becoming the first Tar Heel to ever win a major college football award. Peppers became just the second Carolina player (Lawrence Taylor was the other) to earn consensus All-America honors. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.
Prior to returning to Chapel Hill, Webster had spent the previous six seasons at East Carolina. Webster coached the Pirates' outside linebackers for five seasons from 1995-99 and was in charge of the defensive line in 2000. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 1999.
Webster began his coaching career at North Carolina under former head coach Bill Dooley in 1973 working with the junior varsity program. He also has been a linebackers coach at Dartmouth (1993-95) and Wake Forest (1988-93) and worked with the defensive backs at Northwestern (1982-84). Webster also served coaching stints at Florida (1974), Kansas (1975-78) and Colorado (1978-81).
A 1972 graduate of North Carolina, Webster was a standout defensive player for the Tar Heels. He was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the 1971 Gator Bowl and was the recipient of the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award in 1972 and the Frank Porter Graham Award as one of the top 12 seniors at UNC.
He and his wife, Cornelia, have a son, Kali, and two grandsons, Tajae and Xavier.
THE WEBSTER FILE
Former teammate of Head Coach John Bunting at North Carolina
Was the Tar Heels' Most Valuable Defensive Player in the 1971 Gator Bowl
Won the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award in 1972
Coached 2002 first-round draft pick Julius Peppers last season
Born: August 27, 1950
Education: North Carolina, 1972
Playing experience: North Carolina, 1968-72
Previous coaching experience: North Carolina (1973), Florida (1974), Kansas (1975-78), Colorado (1979-1981), Northwestern (1982-84), Wake Forest (1988-1993), Dartmouth (1993-95), East Carolina (1995-2000)
Bowl experience: 1979 Sugar, 1976 Sun, 1988 Independence, 1998 Liberty, 1999 Mobile, 2001 Peach
NFL Players: Mike McCrary, Julius Peppers, Joey Evans
Family: Wife - Cornelia; Has a son, Kali (25)
