North Carolina defensive coordinator Gene Chizik announced his resignation Thursday, citing a desire to spend more time with family.

"After many emotional family discussions and a lot of prayerful consideration, I have made the personal decision to step away from football to focus on my family," Chizik said in a statement.

"Personally, it has been extremely difficult for my family and me. We have been apart for the past two years for the first time in my 30-year coaching career. I have been a long-distance husband to my devoted wife, Jonna. I missed my twin daughters' entire senior year of high school, along with sending them off to college. My son, Cally, is a high school football and baseball player. I have only seen two of Cally's baseball games and two of his football games in two years. As every parent can imagine, being a long-distance dad to my children has been extremely difficult on everyone.

"At every step in my coaching career, I have emphasized to my players and coaches that family must come first, that family comes before football. Simply put, it is time for me to walk the walk."

Chizik spent two years with the Tar Heels following a three-year hiatus from the college ranks. The Tarpon Springs, Fla., native previously served as the head coach at Auburn for four seasons, winning the BCS National Championship in 2010.

The 55-year-old Chizik engineered the nation's 63rd-ranked defense in 2016.