The University of North Carolina has hired six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick as its next head football coach on a five-year contract.
The announcement came Wednesday, a week after the 72-year-old Belichick emerged as a surprising candidate to replace Mack Brown, the program’s all-time winningest coach.
The deal is pending approval from UNC trustees, who haven’t yet scheduled a meeting. An introductory press conference is also yet to be planned.
“College athletics is evolving, demanding innovative strategies,” UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham stated. “Bill Belichick is a football icon, and his appointment signifies a transformative approach, ensuring Carolina football remains competitive and successful—now and in the future.”
On November 26th, the university announced that Brown wouldn’t return for a seventh season. His departure became official following the Tar Heels’ season-ending loss to N.C. State on November 30th.
Replacing the 73-year-old Brown with the 72-year-old Belichick represents a shift towards a coach with no prior college experience, but an unparalleled NFL record achieved largely alongside quarterback Tom Brady during his 24-year Patriots tenure, which concluded last season.
Following his departure from the NFL, Belichick had been linked to other NFL teams, notably the Atlanta Falcons in January. Therefore, reports of his talks with UNC—initially reported by Inside Carolina and confirmed by the AP last week—were met with widespread surprise, representing an unconventional path for both parties.
However, the two sides engaged in several days of negotiations before reaching an agreement, culminating in an outcome that seemed improbable just a week ago.
