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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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The Bill Belichick era has not been what North Carolina Tar Heels fans likely envisioned when the legendary 73-year-old head coach was hired back in March.
Following an embarrassing 48-14 debut loss to TCU, Belichick rebounded with solid wins over Charlotte and Richmond in back-to-back weeks, but UNC followed that up with consecutive blowout losses to UCF and Clemson.
In addition to the mounting losses, Belichick’s program was hit with several serious allegations last week, including a canceled Hulu documentary, reports of a dysfunctional locker room culture, and two NCAA violations for players reportedly selling their extra tickets and secondary coach Armond Hawkins reportedly providing sideline passes to a game for a player’s family that resulted in a suspension for him.
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Many believe that Belichick and North Carolina are heading toward a split, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini recently reported the opposite is actually true.
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“Sources in both the college game and the league say [Belichicks and GM Michael Lombardi have] no plans to leave Chapel Hill,” she wrote. “… Belichick, who was on the road Friday recruiting in Olney, Md., has told those close to him that he loves coaching at the college level. More than that, he believes they’re building something meaningful at UNC, a program with staying power.”
And while speculation on Belichick’s future likely won’t die down anytime soon, On3’s Pete Nakos recently reported that a change is expected to come to UNC’s coaching staff, though it presumably won’t be Belichick.
“[Belichick’s] contract terms include guaranteed money for the first three years,” Nakos wrote. “He would currently walk away with over $20 million if fired by North Carolina without a negotiated buyout.
“Sources across the college football agent industry and inside the North Carolina program have pointed toward likely assistant coaching changes, but nothing has been made official. Offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens, the former Cleveland Browns head coach, is a holdover from Mack Brown’s staff and faces the most heat.”
If the Tar Heels are looking to shake up the coaching staff, Kitchens is the likeliest candidate to go.
North Carolina has one of the worst offenses in the country, ranking 131st in total offense (263.8 yards per game) and 117th in scoring offense (18.8 points per game).
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