18 hours ago
3
Bill Belichick has denied reports that he has been considering an exit strategy from his role as North Carolina’s head coach.
“Some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that, it’s just categorically false,” Belichick said on Monday during his first public comments since a blowout loss to Clemson at the start of the month. “Glad I’m here. Working toward our goals and the process.”
During the second of two off weeks in a three-week span, the subject of Belichick’s status and future with the Tar Heels was a hot topic, so much so that last Wednesday the university released brief statements from the coach and athletics director Bubba Cunningham reaffirming commitments between Belichick and the school. Reports had said the 73-year-old wanted to return to the NFL as a coach or in the media.
On Monday, there was double the media turnout compared to Belichick’s normal game-week availability. University chancellor Lee Roberts and Cunningham also attended, along with other high-ranking officials in the athletics department, an unusual occurrence midway through a college season.
“It’s a learning curve,” Belichick said of his time with UNC so far. “We’re all in it together. But we’re making a lot of progress and the process will eventually produce the results we want like they have everywhere else I’ve been.”
The Tar Heels are 2-3 so far this season, and the team has underwhelmed under Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots.
“There’s a steeper learning curve than we all anticipated,” Cunningham said. “The gap between expectations and performance is more severe than what we expected and that’s what creates a lot of attention.”
With only one game during a span of nearly a month, it has allowed off-field drama to command plenty of attention. Yet Belichick was spotted attending a high school game Friday night, perhaps an indication of normal in-season functions in terms of recruiting. Belichick said the program has approximately 40 high school players committed for the next recruiting class.
Belichick is in the first year of a deal that guarantees $10m in base and supplemental pay for each of the next two seasons. Team general manager Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive who is largely a partner with Belichick in this college endeavor, is making $1.5m for each of the next two seasons.
North Carolina have been blown out in three games against Championship Subdivision opponents, including a 38-10 belting from Clemson in the most recent game. The Tar Heels surrendered 28 first-quarter points in that game and many UNC fans left early, leaving the stadium half-empty.
“Everybody’s most interested in the final score and I’m at the top of that list,” Belichick said. “But it’s a process. You build a culture, you build a program, and eventually the results will come. When will that happen? Hopefully as soon as possible. We’re working hard to get there.”
Also last week, the school announced that cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins has been placed on suspension for violating rules connected to improper benefits. He’s on leave while the school “further investigates other potential actions detrimental” to the team and school.
The turbulence comes after months-long tabloid-level interest involving Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, who has been on the sidelines prior to games.
