'A dream come true': Belichick introduced as UNC head coach

Legendary football coach Bill Belichick was introduced at a Thursday afternoon news conference as North Carolina's new football coach.

The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach was joined by Chancellor Lee Roberts, Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham and UNC senior associate athletic director for media relations Steve Kirschner.

"This is really kind of a dream come true," Belichick said. "I grew up in college football with my dad as the coach at Navy [from 1956-1989]. So, as a kid, all I knew was college football."

Belichick's father, Steve Belichick, was a backfield coach from 1953-1955 at North Carolina. Bill Belichick called it a full-circle moment.

"Billy's first words were, 'Beat Duke,'" Bill Belichick said.

Belichick agreed to a five-year deal worth $50 million. The first three years of the deal are guaranteed with an average annual salary of $10 million.

The deal allows for Belichick to terminate his deal with UNC on June 1, 2025, if he pays the university a buyout of $1 million. It would cost Belichick $10 million if he left UNC before June 1, 2025.

The UNC Board of Trustees approved Belichick's contract at a Thursday morning meeting. The UNC System Board of Governors also approved the deal. The university announced the five-year deal on Wednesday.

WRAL Sports asked Belichick about the possibility of leaving UNC for the NFL in a year or two.

"I didn't come here to leave," Belichick said.

WRAL Sports asked Belichick how he plans to fill out his coaching staff.

"We'll hire the best ones we can get," Belichick said. "There are several college coaches that are involved in bowl games and so forth, so I wouldn't interfere with the process of those schools with their commitments to their teams."

Belichick said he plans to have a "strong NFL presence" on his staff.

Belichick's staff could include his son, who currently serves as Washington's defensive coordinator.

Former NFL general manager and executive Michael Lombardi is joining the North Carolina football program as general manager. Lombardi made the announcement Wednesday.

"Michael and I have worked together for going all the way back over 30 years," Belichick said. "He has a great knowledge of the general manager role, if you will, in this type of position."

Belichick said he met with the players and with interim head coach Freddie Kitchens.

"[Kitchens] will be the first member of the staff that we hire, and I have a ton of respect for him as well as for Mack [Brown]," Belichick said. "There's a lot of respect for Mack and his career and what he's done, so I also look forward to connecting with him down the road."

The stunning hire of Belichick comes after the Nov. 25 firing of Brown, the school's all-time leader in coaching wins. Brown, 73, was the oldest coach at college football's top level. He will be replaced by the 72-year-old Belichick, who has never coached in college.

Belichick enters the 2025 season as the oldest active head coach in the FBS. He answered why he wants to keep coaching.

"It beats working," Belichick said. "When you love what you do, it's not work.

"I love what I do. I love coaching. I love the interaction with the players. I love building a team, working with the assistants, game planning, the game itself. There are some good ones and there are some bad ones, but they're all a learning experience."

Belichick will try to lead the Tar Heels to their first ACC championship since 1980.

"That was the hey-day early and we got [Lawrence] Taylor right after that with the [New York] Giants," Belichick said. "He talked so much about the Tar Heels and their great program, and it kind of hasn't been to that point since.

"So, I think there's a lot of pride in this program, and I want to do everything I can here to take it to the highest level."

Belichick called success at UNC "a day-by-day process."

Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots and reached three more. He also won two Super Bowls as the defensive coordinator of the Giants, where he coached Taylor.

Belichick was let go by the Patriots after the 2023 season and, despite 333 career NFL victories including the postseason and all those titles, he found himself without a coaching job for the 2024 season.

Belichick emerged as the front-runner for the UNC job in the recent days. The two sides came to an agreement Wednesday.

NC State coach Dave Doeren said he was excited to compete against Belichick on Thursday. Doeren added he had a great amount of respect for Belichick during a media availability.

“For me, he’s a competitor and I’m excited to compete, and that’s about all I have to say about it because I’m not really thinking a whole lot about that program,” Doeren said. “I’m thinking about my own.”