Bill Belichick has officially been named the new head coach of the University of North Carolina (UNC) football team.ย
This marks the first venture into college football coaching for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, formerly of the New England Patriots.
The five-year agreement extends through December 2029 and is valued at $10 million annually, with three years guaranteed.ย
The move comes as a surprise, as the 72-year-old coaching legend has dedicated his entire 49-year career to the NFL. However, it carries a personal connection, as he follows in the footsteps of his father, who was an assistant coach for the UNC Tar Heels.
In his introductory press conference, Belichick said that the possibility of moving to college football coaching earlier in his career โjust never really worked out.โ
"Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK, but this is a dream come true,โ Belichick said. โI grew up in college football with my dad. As a kid, all I knew was college football."
Following his departure from New England earlier this year, Belichick interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons head coach position, which ultimately went to Raheem Morris.
Throughout the 2024 season, he has made a number of media appearances on Manningcast, The Pat McAfee Show and Inside The NFL.
โI didn't come here to leave,โ Belichick said when asked if he plans to return to the NFL. โI feel like doing it a long time. I'm good to go.โ
He succeeds Mack Brown, who was dismissed after a 6-6 season. The lacklustre performance comes as college football becomes increasingly competitive, prompting UNC to invest heavily in elevating its program.
"In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, 'the future ain't what it used to be,' and we are embarking on an entirely new football operation," Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said during the press conference. "We can't wait to have [Coach Belichick] leading the charge for us."
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