The North Carolina Tar Heels have hired former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl winner, as their new head coach. Belichick’s contract is for five years and is pending approval by the University’s Board of Trustees and Board of Governors. Belichick, 72, coached the Patriots from 2000 to 2023 and is second on the NFL’s all-time coaching wins list with 333 victories. He also won two Super Bowls as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator. This opportunity allows Belichick to fulfill his desire to coach in college and build a football program in Chapel Hill.
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham expressed excitement about welcoming Belichick to Chapel Hill, noting that his hiring represents a new approach to ensure Carolina football can evolve, compete, and win. The Tar Heels fired head coach Mack Brown in November and are aiming to improve the team’s performance and championship opportunities. Belichick has never coached in college but has a successful coaching career in the NFL, including six Super Bowl victories with the Patriots. His relationship with Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft reportedly grew strained in 2020, leading to changes in the team’s roster.
Belichick brings a wealth of experience and coaching knowledge to the Tar Heels, who are looking to improve their standing in the ACC and compete for conference championships. His hiring marks a significant change in the college football landscape and signals the school’s commitment to providing top-level coaching for its student-athletes. Despite his highly successful NFL career, Belichick is eager to start this new chapter in his coaching journey at North Carolina.
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