Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl champion and former head coach of the New England Patriots, was named the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels on Wednesday.
The agreement is subject to ratification by the university’s board of governors and trustees and is valid for five years.
From 2000 until 2023, Belichick, 72, was the Patriots’ coach. After winning the Super Bowl in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018, he and New England parted ways in January.
With 333 coaching victories, Belichick is second on the NFL’s all-time tally. After the 1987 and 1990 seasons, he was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, where he won two Super Bowls.
In a statement, Belichick said, “I am thrilled about the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill.” “I loved the moments I spent growing up watching college football with my dad. I’ve always wanted to be a college coach, and I’m excited to start the Chapel Hill football program.
According to Bubba Cunningham, athletic director at UNC, the team is “excited to welcome him to Chapel Hill.”
“We know that college athletics is changing, and those changes require new and innovative thinking,” he stated in a press release. “Hiring football great Bill Belichick to head our program is a fresh strategy that will guarantee Carolina football can develop, compete, and win both now and in the future. We at Carolina are committed to giving our student-athletes the best experience and championship chances, and Coach Belichick is no exception.
On November 26, the Tar Heels fired head coach Mack Brown. Brown had been the team’s coach for the previous six seasons. He had previously been the coach at North Carolina from 1988 to 1997. During his second career, he won one bowl game and finished 43-33.
The Tar Heels last participated in the ACC championship game in 2022 and haven’t won a conference title since 1980.
Belichick has no collegiate coaching experience. Before spending two years with the Detroit Lions and one with the Denver Broncos, he started his career in 1975 as an assistant with the Baltimore Colts.
In 1979, Belichick joined the Giants as a special teams assistant, and in 1985, he was elevated to defensive coordinator. Prior to accepting the head coaching post with the Cleveland Browns in 1991, he won two titles under head coach Bill Parcells.
Belichick was 36-44 in his four seasons with the Browns, and he only made the playoffs once. He reconnected with Parcells after being fired in 1996, first serving as the Patriots’ defensive assistant in 1996 and then as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets from 1997 to 1999.
Before his debut press conference, Belichick shocked the Jets by quitting from his initial agreement to become head coach in 2000. Rather, he departed for New England, where he was required to coach as well as have the last word over player personnel.
Despite overseeing six Super Bowl victories, Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft reportedly had a tense relationship in 2020. Belichick made the decision that year to cut ties with quarterback Tom Brady, who began all of New England’s Super Bowl victories and is destined to become one of the all-time great signal callers and enter the Hall of Fame.
Belichick had a 29-38 record and only made the playoffs once in his final four seasons as head coach of the Patriots, all of which were spent without Brady.
Raheem Morris was hired by the Atlanta Falcons after Belichick interviewed for the head coaching vacancy in January.
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