The North Carolina Tar Heels have appointed Bill Belichick as their new coach, the university announced on Wednesday. The six-time Super Bowl champion, who has never coached at the collegiate level in any capacity, will assume the highest coaching position on the open market.

In a statement issued by the university, North Carolina chancellor Lee H. Roberts declared, “This is a thrilling day for Carolina football and our University.” “Carolina is dedicated to achieving excellence and fostering success in all aspects of our endeavors, including the classroom and the sphere of competition.” I am confident that Coach Belichick shares that dedication following our conversation. We are eager to collaborate on the subsequent chapter of Carolina football, as his legacy is self-evident.

Belichick consented to a five-year contract, contingent upon administration approval. Mack Brown, the previous coach, received a salary of $5 million annually.

Belichick’s candidacy and the fact that he was in the process of finalizing a contract with UNC were initially reported by Inside Carolina on Wednesday. Belichick’s contract is expected to be approved by the North Carolina Board of Trustees on Thursday.

The Tar Heels’ job opening was the first known contact that Belichick had with a college position since departing the New England Patriots in 2023. Belichick has been employed in the television industry during the 2024 season; however, ESPN reported in September that he intended to resume coaching in 2025.

The appointment follows the departure of Brown, 73, from North Carolina after six seasons in his second tenure with the team. The only FBS coach older than 70 was Brown; Belichick, who is eight months younger, will be commencing his first position as a college football coach at any level.

Belichick is widely considered the most accomplished coach in the annals of the National Football League, having won six Super Bowls as a head coach and two more as an assistant. During his legendary 24-year tenure with the Patriots, he was the recipient of three AP NFL Coach of the Year awards. Additionally, he holds NFL records for the most Super Bowl appearances (nine), postseason wins (19), and division championships (17) as a coach. He coached in the NFL for a total of 49 years.

The only coaches in NFL history to surpass 300 victories are Belichick, Don Shula, and George Halas. Currently, Belichick is expected to conclude his NFL tenure with 14 victories less than Shula’s all-time career victory record.

Upon the initial report of Belichick’s interview with North Carolina, there was a widespread belief in the NFL that he would not seriously contemplate transitioning to the collegiate level. Nevertheless, Belichick appeared to have impressed the UNC brass and demonstrated a willingness to confront the complexities and realities of collegiate football.

North Carolina’s athletic department, which is renowned for its men’s basketball program and significant success in non-revenue sports, is experiencing a pivotal moment with the inclusion of Belichick. He immediately lends credibility to the football team, surpassing the credibility that Brown established as a national championship-winning coach, as a result of his legendary NFL career.

Some may compare the significance of Belichick’s recruitment for the football team to UNC’s acquisition of basketball coach Roy Williams from Kansas in 2003.

The focus is now on Belichick’s adaptation to the contemporary collegiate football landscape, which encompasses staff development, recruiting, and the National Football League.

During an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, Belichick verified that he is in discussions with North Carolina. Although he refrained from providing specifics at the time, he did offer his viewpoint on the operation of a college football program in the contemporary era.

“If I were enrolled in a college program, the college program would serve as a pipeline to the NFL for athletes who possessed the potential to play in the NFL,” stated Belichick.It would be a professional program that would include training, nutrition, a scheme, instruction, and techniques that could be applied in the NFL. It would be a college-level NFL program that would provide players with an education that would prepare them for their post-football careers, regardless of whether they were at the conclusion of their undergraduate or professional careers.

Steve Belichick, his son, served as the defensive coordinator at Washington during the 2024 season. It is widely speculated that the junior Belichick’s significant involvement in the program was a component of his father’s overall proposal to the Tar Heels.

In the most recent six-year period under Brown, North Carolina achieved four winning seasons, with the 2022-23 campaigns resulting in 17 victories. With 113 victories, he retired as the most successful coach in the program’s history.

 

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