News
12/11/24
3 min read
Univeristy of North Carolina Hires Bill Belichick As Head Coach
On Wednesday, the University of North Carolina shocked the football world, reportedly agreeing to a deal with legendary coach Bill Belichick to become the team's next head coach.
Belichick, 72, will be taking his first college head coaching job after working in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until 2023, his last season with the New England Patriots. Belichick does have one connection to the Tar Heels, as his father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels in the 1950s.
According to The Athletic, Belichick agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal, which exceeds the reported $5 million per year contract former coach Mack Brown was on.
UNC zeroed in on Belichick after parting ways with Brown at the end of a 6-6 season, leaving the school in 10th place in the ACC. North Carolina hasn't won an ACC title since 1980 and hasn't won more than 10 games since finishing 11-3 in 2005.
Luckily for them, Belichick knows plenty about winning. He has eight total Super Bowls, including six with the Patriots (an NFL record) and two as an assistant. He leaves the NFL with 333 career head coaching wins, trailing only Don Shula at 347. Belichick also won three AP Coach of the Year awards and holds the NFL record for playoff wins and division titles with 19 and 17, respectively.
On Monday, Belichick appeared on the Pat McAfee show, where he discussed how he would handle a hypothetical college coaching job.
"IF I was in a College program it would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 9, 2024
It would be a professional program at the College level..
I don't have any doubt that the players would be ready for the NFL" ~ Bill Belichick #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/JyMDtzs2yR
"If I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL," Belichick said on the McAfee show. "It would be a professional program: training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, and techniques that would transfer to the NFL."
Belichick's son, Steve, spent this past season as the defensive coordinator for the University of Washington after coaching with Bill on the Patriots from 2012 to 2023. Multiple reports indicate Steve could have a role on the UNC coaching staff.
The older Belichick's move to the college level will make him the oldest college head coach, surpassing his predecessor, Mack Brown, who was 73 upon retiring from UNC. The next closest head coaches in age are Kirk Ferentz at Iowa (69), K.C. Keeler at Temple (65), and Kyle Whittingham at Utah (65).
ESPN reported that veteran NFL coach Steve Wilks, Tulane coach Jon Sumrall, Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, Army coach Jeff Monken, and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith were among the other names UNC pursued for the job.
