North Carolina has an assistant coaching vacancy to fill. Tar Heels tight ends coach and running game coordinator John Lilly is joining the Carolina Panthers staff.

Lilly will serve in the same position on Frank Reich’s staff, the Panthers announced Thursday. Lilly was reported as a name to watch for the position earlier in the week. He has previously coached in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams (2016) and Cleveland Browns (2019).

Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown worked with Lilly at Georgia from 2011-to-2015. Lilly also worked with Carolina offensive line coach James Campen in Cleveland.

Lilly leaves Chapel Hill after 3 seasons. In 2022, his tight ends unit produced 2 of UNC’s top 5 receivers in Bryson Nesbit and Kamari Morales.

Lilly is the third offensive assistant Mack Brown will be replacing for 2023 following the previous departures of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and offensive line coach Jack Bicknell.