North Carolina offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell has accepted an offer to become Assistant Head Coach and offensive line coach on the new staff at Vanderbilt.

"I think when you're successful, as we were this past season, you're going to lose some coaches depending on the situation," said UNC head coach John Bunting. "In this particular case, Robbie has a longstanding relationship with Bobby Johnson and I think it's a great opportunity for him. I wish nothing but the best for Robbie, his wife Nora, and their daughter Emsley."

Caldwell, 48, had been on Tar Heel football staff since December 1999 as offensive line coach and last week he was on the sidelines for Carolina's 16-10 victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl.

"I had a great time at Carolina and I'll always be indebted to Dick Baddour, John Bunting and Gary Tranquill for allowing me to stay (in 2001)," said Caldwell. "It was a great experience. This was the toughest decision I've ever had to make. I'm going to go coach (at Vanderbilt) with a bunch of guys that I started my coaching career with. It was a great opportunity for my family and future and that's the only way I could leave Carolina."

A native of Pageland, S.C., he had previously coached the offensive line at North Carolina State since 1986, and from 1997-99 had the added responsibility of assistant head coach. Caldwell has coached in 10 bowl games in his career, including the 1986 Peach Bowl, the 1988 Peach Bowl, the 1989 Copper Bowl, the 1990 All American Bowl, the 1991 Peach Bowl, the 1992 Gator Bowl, the 1993 Hall of Fame Bowl, the 1994 Peach Bowl, the 1999 Micron PC Bowl and this year's Peach Bowl. He also coached in the 1997 Blue-Gray Classic.

Prior to his experience with NC State, Caldwell coached the offensive line at Furman (1978-85), and he was a graduate assistant coach at Furman in 1976. In 1977, Caldwell served as the football and baseball coach at Hanahan (S.C.) High School.

At Furman, Caldwell coached six Southern Conference Championship squads (1978, 1980-83, 1985) and the 1985 squad was the nation runner-up. He coached first-team AP All-America Gene Reeder in 1985 and third-team All-America Dan Sleet in 1983. He coached eight offensive linemen during his tenure at Furman who were named first-team All-Southern Conference and five Furman players won the Southern Conference's Jacobs Blocking Trophy during his eight years.

A three-year letterman as a center at Furman from 1973-75, Caldwell won the team's MVP award in 1975. He graduated from Furman with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 1976.