UNC Football Archives - Page 4 of 6

At 72 years old and out of the NFL, Bill Belichick makes presence known at the Super Bowl

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — At 72 years old and out of the NFL, Bill Belichick still stole the show during Super Bowl week. He wore all eight of his Super Bowl rings at the event. The grumpy coach who couldn’t be bothered in New England with any meaningful quotes and conversation with reporters has turned into a bit of a media darling since his split with the Patriots. He clowns around and offers insight on “The Pat McAfee Show” and even hosted a pair of podcasts. He even appeared on the NFL Network on Thursday night, where he refused to pick a Super Bowl winner between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.… Continue Reading

Bill Belichick and North Carolina have a signed contract for his hiring as football coach

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick and school officials have signed his official employment contract. That formalized last month’s hiring after speculation that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach might opt instead for a return to the NFL. The school released the contract Thursday, a day after Belichick had signed the deal. It includes $10 million per year in base and supplemental salary. Only the first three years of the five-year deal are guaranteed. There’s also another $3.5 million in available bonuses. Belichick would owe a $10 million buyout if he leaves before June, then $1 million afterward.… Continue Reading

UConn beats Carolina in Fenway Bowl, dominating Bill Belichick’s next team in his old backyard

BOSTON (AP) — Joe Fagnano threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns to help UConn beat North Carolina 27-14 in the Fenway Bowl, embarrassing Bill Belichick’s new team in his old backyard. Belichick was not spotted in the home of the Boston Red Sox, about an hour north of the stadium where he and Tom Brady hung six Super Bowl championship banners. Interim coach Freddie Kitchens, who like Belichick is a former Cleveland Browns coach, took over when Mack Brown was fired and handled the bowl preparations. Mel Brown rushed for 96 yards for the Huskies.… Continue Reading

Kitchens will lead Tar Heels in Fenway Bowl against UConn. Another ex-Browns coach is standing by

BOSTON (AP) — Bill Belichick hasn’t taken over yet on the North Carolina sideline but he still looms over the program as the Tar Heels prepare to play UConn in the Fenway Bowl. A lot of the attention for Saturday’s game at Fenway Park is focused on the former New England Patriots coach returning to his old backyard for the first game since he was hired in Chapel Hill. It’s his first college coaching job ever after six Super Bowls and more NFL wins than anyone except for Don Shula. Former Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is the interim coach for the bowl game.… Continue Reading

Belichick’s bid to reshape football at UNC another sign of rising pro influence on college level

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s hiring of NFL coaching great Bill Belichick marks another sign of the growing influence of the NFL on college football. The challenges of managing the transfer portal and looming revenue sharing for athletes has led teams to take on more NFL-like structures to their programs. Belichick is set to structure North Carolina’s program like an NFL front office. That includes hiring former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as general manager. At Florida, coach Billy Napier is interviewing general managers while saying the program is going to “a business model” to deal with a “major math puzzle.”… Continue Reading

Bill Belichick ‘always wanted’ to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina

New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. University trustees approved terms of a five-year deal for him Thursday morning before he held his introductory news conference on campus.… Continue Reading

North Carolina announces 5-year deal with Bill Belichick to take over as coach of the Tar Heels

North Carolina and Bill Belichick have agreed to a five-year deal for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach to become the Tar Heels’ next football coach. The school announced the hiring Wednesday. That came roughly a week after the 72-year-old Belichick’s name surfaced as an unlikely candidate to replace the program’s winningest coach in Mack Brown. The deal still requires approval by UNC trustees. Belichick won six titles in his 24-year run as head coach of the Patriots. Most of that success came with quarterbacking great Tom Brady.… Continue Reading

Belichick says he’s had ‘good conversations’ with UNC chancellor amid Tar Heels’ coaching search

Former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick says he had “a couple of good conversations” with North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts amid his discussions about the Tar Heels’ head-coaching job. Belichick appeared on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. He said he had spent the 11 months since his departure from the Patriots taking a “longer look” at the college level. He said he had learned a lot and had “a couple of good conversations” with Roberts. UNC fired the program’s all-time winningest coach in Mack Brown last month.… Continue Reading

UNC’s Mack Brown closes coaching tenure with rivalry loss, disappointment over handling of exit

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Mack Brown closed his North Carolina coaching tenure with a loss to rival N.C. State. That came days after the school announced the program’s winningest coach wouldn’t return next season. The 73-year-old Brown was in the sixth season of his second tenure with the Tar Heels. Brown said he didn’t want to become a distraction to the players by announcing a coaching change leading up to the game against the Wolfpack. But Brown said he agreed it was time for the program to have new leadership and said: “I‘m not angry. I think it’s time to go.”… Continue Reading

UNC says football coach Mack Brown won’t return for 2025 season

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina coach Mack Brown won’t return for the 2025 season. The school announced the move Tuesday with a statement from athletic director Bubba Cunningham. The school said Cunningham informed the 73-year-old College Football Hall of Fame member that there would be a coaching change. Brown is set to coach the regular-season finale on Saturday against rival N.C. State, though a decision hasn’t been made about whether Brown will coach a bowl game. Brown is in his second stint with the program and won a national championship at Texas.… Continue Reading