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CHAPEL HILL -- Everett Withers grew up in Charlotte wanting to play football at North Carolina, never imagining that one day he'd be the head coach there. So when the opportunity came -- when UNC named Withers its interim head coach after firing Butch Davis before the start of this season, it was, in some ways, like a dream.

Now that dream is ending. Monday, Withers will coach the Tar Heels for the final time when they play against Missouri in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. (5 p.m., ESPN2).

He gave the impression last week that he will leave with plenty of stories, good and bad -- as well as ones he's not necessarily ready to share yet. Standing in the tunnel at Kenan Stadium, surrounded by cameras, microphones and reporters, Withers smiled when asked to reflect on his brief tenure as UNC's head coach.

"I have no doubt it'll be positive (when I look back on it)," he said. "I'll be looking to get that book deal one day and write a book."

He said it as if he were joking. But if Withers indeed wanted to sit down one day and put the past four-and-a-half-months of his life on paper -- or even the last 18 months -- it's not likely there would be a shortage of compelling stories.

Withers became the Tar Heels' head coach on July 28, one day after the university fired Davis amid an NCAA investigation into impermissible benefits and academic fraud that forced 14 players to serve suspensions of varying length during the 2010 season.

The firing of Davis came as a surprise to players and his staff, and it meant that Withers' promotion wouldn't necessarily be celebrated. It was only temporary, after all, and there was no time for celebrating. Withers had just days to prepare the Tar Heels for the start of preseason practice and to reorder the team's coaching staff.

UNC, meanwhile, characterized Withers' promotion as what the program needed to move forward. And so, amid Withers' rushed preparations for the start of the season, he became a public relations symbol, too, representative of a new beginning.

All the while, Withers embraced his new role without ever knowing, for sure, what his job status might be beyond this season. He wouldn't say last week if it been strange, building a bridge from one era of UNC football into another, without knowing what awaited him on the other side.

"It's been a very good learning experience," he said last week, declining to go deeper.

One of Withers' players, though, spoke for him.

"I can't even imagine what he's gone through," said Bryn Renner, the Tar Heels' sophomore quarterback. "But I know he's done a great job. And he's been a father figure to this whole team, this whole year, (and shown us) how to handle adversity."

UNC administrators -- from chancellor Holden Thorp to new athletic director Cunningham -- told Withers he'd have a chance to earn the Tar Heels' coaching job on a permanent basis. Cunningham also made clear, though, that he intended to embark on a national coaching search.

UNC eventually hired Larry Fedora, who has spent the past four seasons at Southern Miss, as the Tar Heels' permanent head coach. Fedora will arrive at UNC not long after the Tar Heels return from the Independence Bowl, and Withers is headed to Ohio State, where he will be co-defensive coordinator under new Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer.

At Ohio State, Withers will enter a situation not unlike the one he faced at UNC. Because of NCAA violations, the Buckeyes next season will not be bowl eligible. They must also forfeit scholarships.

"I feel very fortunate to be part of The Ohio State University," Withers said. "I do think the sanctions are what they are ... Coming in on the front end, it gives us a chance to build a program, and I think it'll be a very positive thing in the long term."

At North Carolina, Withers learned a thing or two about guiding a program -- and about leading young men -- through difficult times. He was the Tar Heels' defensive coordinator when former UNC defensive end Marvin Austin wrote on Twitter about an extravagant trip to Miami Beach.

Those tweets led to one NCAA investigation, which led to another related to academic misconduct. Which led, eventually, to Withers' temporary ascent to head coach.

"He's going to definitely get a lot of love for him stepping up into this position to take ownership and to actually deal with all the situations that (were) coming," Tar Heels defensive end Quinton Coples said of Withers. "And I think he's done a great job, and I think he's going to be rewarded later."

When UNC introduced Fedora as its head coach during a celebratory press conference earlier this month, Withers was not among the hundreds in attendance at the Loudermilk Center, which is attached to one end of Kenan Stadium. Nonetheless, Withers' contributions did not go unmentioned.

Months after firing Davis, Thorp thanked the man who had the unenviable job of stepping in to replace him.

"I especially want to thank coach Everett Withers and his staff for all they have done this season," Thorp said.

The day of Fedora's introductory press conference, Withers met with his team. It could have an uncomfortable experience, but his players say it wasn't.

Withers walked in and began talking about preparations for the bowl game. There would be no emotional talks, just business as usual. "We look at it, and we may think it's uncomfortable but for him, he takes it on as any other challenge," Coples said.

And now comes the final challenge of Withers' final season at UNC. He has said that his motivation entering the game against Missouri has come from the Tar Heels' senior class -- one that has experienced so much turmoil. To win the game for the seniors would be especially meaningful, Withers said.

But his seniors, in turn, want to instead win the game for Withers. After he learned, officially, that he wouldn't be UNC's permanent head coach, Withers said, "Coaches are day-to-day. You're always disappointed when you don't get something. But as a coach, you learn to move on fast."

Withers is attempting to do that. After coaching UNC in the Independence Bowl, he said he planned to be in Columbus, Ohio, within a few days.