In a stunning college football move, the University of North Carolina announced Tuesday that six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick has accepted the head coaching job with the Tar Heels. The 72-year-old agreed to a five-year deal pending approval by UNC’s board of trustees, which meets Thursday.
Bill Belichick is coming to college football for the first time, having had an incredible NFL career with the New England Patriots, whom he left in 2023. His father, Steve Belichick, coached for the Tar Heels in the 1950s, so this is a full-circle moment for the Belichick legacy.
“I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured those times,” Belichick said. “I have always wanted to coach in college, and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill.”
Belichick’s hiring is a sea change for the Tar Heels, who haven’t won an ACC title since 1980. Board chair John P. Preyer initiated his hiring, with the final negotiations taking place on Wednesday. Sources indicate that Belichick had proposed the plan for the program’s structure to the standard of the NFL, including how to develop the players, train them, and recruit students using NIL deals.
According to UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, “This is a transformative hire in every sense of the word because it puts Carolina Football in a position to compete and win at this level. His leadership and commitment to excellence will present our student-athletes with unmatched opportunities.”
Stephen is now a defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies. The senior Belichick will build an NFL pipeline and improve UNC’s recruiting.
With Belichick at the helm, college football opens its book to a bright new chapter, along with a reboot of the Tar Heels’ program.
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