— Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik announced his resignation Thursday from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football team, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

Current linebackers coach John Papuchis, who worked with Chizik the last two seasons, will take over as Carolina’s defensive coordinator.

"I have been a long-distance husband," Chizik wrote in a letter addressed to the "Carolina faithful." "I missed my twin daughters' entire senior year of high school."

Chizik served two seasons under head football coach Larry Fedora, capping a 30-year coaching career. In his first year in Chapel Hill, Carolina was the nation’s most improved Power 5 defense en route to a record-setting 11-3 season, a berth in the ACC Championship Game and a No. 15 final ranking in both national polls.

"I have spent 30 years coaching and mentoring young men to not only be great players but also great fathers, husbands and men," he wrote." It is time for me to invest that same energy into my own son as he approaches his last two years of high school."

Cally Chizik plays both football and baseball in high school.

Chizik called the decision "emotional," wrote that he had "zero regrets" about his time with the Tar Heels and praised Fedora as a coach and close friend.

Fedora said, "The defensive improvement speaks for itself, but I’m equally as proud of the growth and development of our student-athletes on the defensive side of the ball. I hate to lose Gene but certainly understand the reasoning behind his decision."