Scott Forbes is an American college baseball coach and former player best known as the head baseball coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. He became UNC’s 25th head baseball coach on August 7, 2020, after the retirement of longtime coach Mike Fox.
Known for his steady leadership, player development, and strong recruiting eye, Forbes has helped keep North Carolina among the leading programs in college baseball. His teams have reached NCAA Regionals every year of his head coaching tenure through 2025, with Super Regional appearances and a College World Series trip adding to his reputation.
| Net Worth: | $3 Million |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Scott Forbes |
| Birth Date: | August 4, 1974 |
| Age (as of 2026): | 51 Years |
| Birth Place: | Sanford, North Carolina, USA |
| Height: | – |
| Parents: | – |
| Wife: | Mandy Passwaters Forbes |
Early Life
Scott Forbes was born on 4th August, 1974, in Sanford, North Carolina. His hometown roots played an important part in shaping his personality and coaching style. Forbes grew up in a state where college sports carry deep community meaning, and baseball became a central part of his life from a young age.
His early years in Sanford gave him the foundation for a career built on discipline, loyalty, and local pride. Forbes later carried those values into coaching, where he became known for stressing accountability, preparation, and team-first habits.
Family & Education
Scott Forbes has kept much of his family background private, but he has often credited his parents and close family for their support. His public comments show that family remains a major part of his life and career.
Forbes began his college baseball playing career at Middle Georgia College before transferring to North Carolina Wesleyan. He played at North Carolina Wesleyan from 1995 to 1997 under Mike Fox, who later became a major mentor in his coaching journey.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from North Carolina Wesleyan in 1998. His college years shaped both his baseball knowledge and his long connection with Fox, who became one of the most important figures in his career.
Career
Scott Forbes began coaching in 1998 at North Carolina Wesleyan under Mike Fox. When Fox moved to the University of North Carolina, Forbes followed him to Chapel Hill and served as a UNC assistant coach from 1999 to 2002.
Forbes later joined Winthrop, where he worked from 2003 to 2005. He returned to North Carolina in 2006 as pitching coach and spent more than a decade helping build one of the nation’s most consistent college baseball programs. During that period, UNC developed standout pitchers and reached the College World Series multiple times.
He later served in several key roles at UNC, including associate head coach, recruiting coordinator, pitching coach, and hitting coach. His work as an assistant earned national respect. Collegiate Baseball named him National Pitching Coach of the Year in 2008, and Baseball America recognized him as one of the country’s top assistant coaches in 2018.
Scott Forbes became North Carolina’s head coach in August 2020. His first season came during a challenging period for college sports, but he quickly kept UNC competitive. In 2022, he guided the Tar Heels to an ACC Tournament championship and an NCAA Regional host role.
His biggest breakthrough came in 2024. North Carolina won the ACC Coastal Division, earned the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the College World Series. Forbes received ACC Coach of the Year and ABCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year honors that season.
In 2025, Forbes led UNC to another strong year. The Tar Heels finished 46-15, won the ACC Tournament, and earned a top national seed in the NCAA Tournament. By March 2026, his head coaching record stood at 224-108-1. UNC rewarded him with a contract extension that keeps him in Chapel Hill through at least the 2031 season.
Personal Life
Scott Forbes is married to Mandy Passwaters Forbes. The couple has two daughters, Hannah and Ally. Forbes has spoken warmly about his family in public settings and often credits them for helping him handle the demands of coaching at a major Division I program.
His lifestyle appears closely tied to baseball, family, faith, and the Chapel Hill community. Forbes is known for valuing player development beyond the field. UNC has also highlighted the program’s community work during his time as head coach, including involvement with UNC Children’s Hospital and the Miracle League of the Triangle.
Forbes has also been open about the importance of faith in his life. Public profiles have described him as a Christian believer, though he generally keeps his personal life respectful and low-key.
Social Media
Scott Forbes does not appear to maintain a highly public personal social media brand. Most public updates about his coaching career come through official North Carolina baseball channels, especially the Carolina Baseball accounts.
UNC’s baseball program regularly shares game updates, interviews, press conferences, photos, and team news involving Forbes. Fans can also find his coaching updates through GoHeels, UNC athletics media, and college baseball reporters covering the Tar Heels.
Scott Forbes Net Worth and Salary
Scott Forbes’ exact net worth has not been officially confirmed. Based on public salary information, long-term coaching employment, contract extensions, and his senior role at a major ACC program, his estimated net worth is likely between $1 million and $3 million as of 2026.
His main income source is his salary as North Carolina’s head baseball coach. His 2024 employment agreement listed a base salary of $300,000 per year. It also included supplemental compensation rising from $170,000 in 2024-25 to $210,000 in 2028-29. For the 2025-26 contract year, that structure placed his regular annual compensation at about $480,000 before bonuses.
Forbes’ contract also included performance bonuses. These covered achievements such as conference titles, NCAA Regional participation, Super Regional appearances, College World Series participation, academic marks, and national coaching awards. His 2026 extension through 2031 likely improved his long-term financial security, though complete updated terms were not fully public at the time of writing.
