Bill Belichick, the longtime NFL coach who won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, will be the next football coach at the University of North Carolina, the school announced Wednesday. He agreed to a five-year deal pending approval by the board of trustees. Belichick will move to the college ranks after spending his entire coaching career in the NFL. He will replace Mack Brown, who was fired just before the end of a tumultuous 2024 regular season.
Belichick’s decision to leave the Patriots after the 2023 season and enter the college ranks was influenced by his desire to coach in a new environment and for a change of pace. He maintained a close relationship with Nick Saban, the longtime Alabama head coach, and has reportedly been impressed by Saban’s success in the college ranks.
Belichick’s first task will be to assemble a staff, which he has already begun doing, and to evaluate the Tar Heels’ roster to determine which players are worth keeping. The team, ranked 90th nationally per 247Sports, only has nine commits right now and has struggled to attract top talent. However, Belichick has a reputation for being a highly effective recruiter, and his arrival could bring a surge of attention and interest to the program.
Belichick will be the first college coach in his career, having spent his entire coaching career in the NFL. He has a strong reputation for his coaching abilities, having led the Patriots to six Super Bowl wins and seven AFC Championship Games. He also has a reputation for being a demanding and intense coach, which may make it difficult for him to adapt to the college environment.
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