At a Glance
- Mark and Aimee Maye met at UNC and raised four collegiate athletes
- Drake Maye, their youngest, became the third overall 2024 NFL Draft pick
- Aimee once scrambled 36 eggs in one skillet to feed her growing boys
- Why it matters: Their parenting blueprint shows how one family produced a generation of elite athletes
Mark and Aimee Maye turned their University of North Carolina love story into a powerhouse sports family. The couple, who met when Mark returned to UNC as an assistant coach, raised four sons who all competed at the collegiate level and saw their youngest, Drake, become a top-three NFL draft pick.
How They Met at UNC
Mark, five years older than Aimee, first spotted her while coaching her Powder Puff game. She worked in the football recruiting office and initially thought he was “probably married with children.” Mark asked her to Golden Corral, and their relationship took off from there.
Aimee told The News & Observer she knew from the start he would “have a lot of fun coaching his kids one day.”
Raising Four Athletic Sons
The Mayes welcomed Luke, Cole, Beau and Drake. Each brother chose a different collegiate sport:
- Luke – UNC basketball, 2015-2019
- Cole – University of Florida baseball, NCAA champion
- Beau – UNC basketball through 2023
- Drake – UNC football, then New England Patriots quarterback
Standing 6’4″, Drake is the smallest brother. Mark told 247Sports that being the youngest and smallest forced Drake to “really learn how to bring it in backyard basketball or football.”
The 36-Egg Breakfast Legend
Aimee’s most famous meal involved scrambling 36 eggs in her “huge skillet” so the boys could compete over who ate the most. She swears each son polished off six eggs, and “at the end of the meal, there was not a morsel of food left.”
Mark’s Playing and Coaching Career
Mark quarterbacked UNC from 1983-1988, starting in 1986 and 1987 and serving as 1987 team captain. He set school records for longest pass play, most passing yards in a game and most total offense in a game. A brief Tampa Bay Buccaneers stint ended because of shoulder and arm injuries.
Mark later returned as a graduate assistant and earned his M.B.A. He coached all his children in baseball, basketball and football, telling 247Sports, “It was a lot of fun. I was fortunate to be involved with coaching a lot of the teams.”
Aimee’s Basketball Roots
Aimee starred at West Charlotte High School, earning Mecklenburg County girls’ player of the year honors her senior year. Though she could have played at UNC, she chose not to, she told The Charlotte Observer in July 2017.
Parenting Philosophy
Mark told 247Sports in July 2023 that he and Aimee focused on character as much as talent: “We really tried to do our best with them and enjoy them.”
Drake’s NFL Breakthrough
In April 2024, Drake was selected third overall by the New England Patriots. By January 2026, he had helped lead the franchise to its first playoff win since the 2019 Super Bowl victory.
Key Takeaways
- Mark and Aimee Maye met at UNC and built a family around sports
- All four sons played collegiate athletics in different sports
- Drake, the youngest, became a top NFL draft pick and playoff-winning quarterback
- Their parenting combined competitive spirit with strong values
