Bill Belichick Becomes HC at UNC
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During his first press conference as the Tar Heels' new head coach on Thursday, Bill Belichick made a few jokes, displayed an old UNC hoodie that belonged to his father, and promised to bring a professional model to North Carolina.
When Belichick arrived to address a packed house of media and UNC fans, including recently inducted College Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers, he was met with a standing ovation.
A six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, a titan of coaching, sitting at a dais inside Kenan Memorial Stadium with Carolina blue seats right outside the suite doors made it feel almost unreal in many respects.
When Belichick arrived to address a packed house of media and UNC fans, including recently inducted College Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers, he was met with a standing ovation.
A six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, a titan of coaching, sitting at a dais inside Kenan Memorial Stadium with Carolina blue seats right outside the suite doors made it feel almost unreal in many respects.
Belichick, who played in the NFL his whole career and has 302 regular-season victories, second only to Don Shula (328), stated that he had always dreamed of becoming a college coach.
From 1953 to 1955, his father, Steve, was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels. In his opening remarks, Lee Roberts, the chancellor of UNC, took out a copy of the 1954 North Carolina media guide and read a passage about Steve Belichick that concluded with a reference to his son, William Steven, who was two years old. Roberts greeted him, "Coach, welcome back to Carolina,"
From 1953 to 1955, his father, Steve, was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels. In his opening remarks, Lee Roberts, the chancellor of UNC, took out a copy of the 1954 North Carolina media guide and read a passage about Steve Belichick that concluded with a reference to his son, William Steven, who was two years old. Roberts greeted him, "Coach, welcome back to Carolina,"
The coach's signature gray short-sleeved sweatshirt was the one Roberts gave to Belichick. Then, in yet another tribute to Belichick, athletic director Bubba Cunningham produced a suit jacket with the sleeves ripped off. Belichick then claimed to have his own equipment and produced a white sweatshirt that had belonged to his father while he was a student at Carolina.
According to Belichick, the general manager of the Tar Heels' football program will be Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive who worked as an assistant with the Patriots from 2014 to 2016. Belichick said that he will keep Freddie Kitchens, the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns, as UNC's interim coach.
Although North Carolina has played football for 136 years, the team last won an ACC title in 1980. Basketball has essentially supplanted football, but Belichick's arrival marks a new era.
Although North Carolina has played football for 136 years, the team last won an ACC title in 1980. Basketball has essentially supplanted football, but Belichick's arrival marks a new era.