CHAPEL HILL – In a seismic shift that will reverberate through college football, the University of North Carolina has hired legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick as its new head football coach, marking a transformative moment for a program seeking to reclaim its competitive identity.

The six-time Super Bowl champion, widely regarded as the most successful coach in NFL history, agreed to a five-year contract that instantly elevates the Tar Heels' football profile. The move comes after UNC fired Mack Brown following a disappointing 6-6 season, with the program searching for renewed direction and national relevance.

Belichick's hiring represents more than a coaching transition; it's a strategic reimagining of UNC football. At 72, the NFL coaching icon brings a unprecedented level of credibility and tactical expertise to Chapel Hill, promising to construct a program that mirrors his professional success.

The coach's connection to North Carolina runs deep. His father, Steve Belichick, served as an assistant football coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955, a familial link that adds emotional resonance to his arrival. Bill Belichick grew up immersed in football culture, learning complex play diagrams and coaching strategies from his father long before becoming a coaching legend.

UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts emphasized the transformative potential of the hire. "Carolina is committed to excellence and creating opportunities to succeed, from the classroom to the field of competition," Roberts said. "Coach Belichick embodies that commitment."

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham framed the hiring as a strategic response to the evolving landscape of college athletics. "Bill Belichick is a football legend," Cunningham stated. "Hiring him represents a new approach that will ensure Carolina football can evolve, compete, and win."

Belichick arrives with a coaching resume that is unparalleled in professional football. His 333-178 NFL record, six Super Bowl championships as head coach, and two additional titles as a defensive coordinator represent a standard of excellence few coaches have approached. He stands just 14 wins away from Don Shula's all-time NFL coaching victories record.

The coach's vision for college football is distinctly pragmatic. In recent interviews, he described his ideal program as an "NFL program at a college level" – a pipeline designed to prepare players for professional careers through sophisticated training, nutrition, and coaching techniques.

This approach could prove particularly attractive in the modern college football ecosystem, where Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and transfer portals have transformed recruitment and player development. Belichick has already demonstrated an understanding of these dynamics, signaling a forward-thinking strategy for building the Tar Heels' program.

The hiring also maintains a family football tradition. Belichick's son Stephen, currently defensive coordinator at the University of Washington, is expected to play a significant role in the North Carolina coaching staff.

North Carolina football has languished in recent years, last winning an ACC title in 1980. The program's last sustained success came under Mack Brown's previous tenure, which ended with a 44-33 record over six seasons. Belichick's arrival signals an ambitious attempt to restore the Tar Heels to national prominence.

An emergency meeting of the University's Board of Trustees is scheduled Thursday to formally approve Belichick's contract, a procedural step that appears to be a formality given the overwhelming institutional support.

For a program seeking resurrection, Bill Belichick represents more than a coach. He embodies a transformative vision – a bridge between professional excellence and collegiate potential, promising to redefine North Carolina football in his own legendary image.

"Everything you do, do it with passion, energy, and enthusiasm."
   
Will Healy, the new head football coach of the Charlotte 49ers, is driven by those 10 words. His teams are driven by the same philosophy, which leans heavily on character, relationships, and positivity.
   
In hiring Healy, Charlotte Director of Athletics Mike Hill saw those characteristics and knew they meshed with the very culture he is building for the 49ers athletic program.

Charlotte AD Mike Hill and new Head Coach Will Healy Photo Credit: Charlotte Sports Information

   
"Will Healy reflects our program and institution," Hill said. "He is a young, hungry, up and comer. He is a force to be reckoned with."
   
Healy, an Eddie Robinson Award winner as the National FCS Coach of the Year, is known for infusing energy and enthusiasm into his program. During his three-year stint as head coach at Austin Peay he engineered one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history. Now he brings that attitude to Charlotte, which set school records for FBS wins and Conference USA, this past season.
   
"We're delighted to attract a coach of Will Healy's caliber and character," UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip Dubois said.
   
"We've got a gold mine here. I love what we're going to do here together. Let's build something special," Healy told the standing room only crowd. "The people in the city of Charlotte need to come see what this place is about. People are going to come here because they know us and because of the relationships that our players and our coaches and our athletic department have with them. We are going to build a family atmosphere. We believe in who we are, we believe in how we are raising a culture and how we are raising these men to be great husbands and fathers. We believe in the opportunity that comes with being a student-athlete here at Charlotte and I can't wait to go along this journey with all of you in this room."
   
To say his enthusiasm is contagious is an understatement.
   
When he said he told Hill "I would walk to Charlotte from Chattanooga to have an opportunity to talk about this job", you believed he would.
   
That attitude helped him land top-five FCS recruiting classes at two schools in four of the last five years, including the top recruiting class in the FCS following a 0-11 season.
   
That attitude helped him produce back-to-back five-win seasons at a place that had two five-win seasons in the previous 24 years.
   
That attitude helped him win 13 games in the last two years after the Govs had won one game in the previous four years.
   
"We used ... multiple conversations with fellow colleagues across the country, administrators, coaches, and others," Hill said "Will Healy's name continued to pop up over and over. There is high praise for this man, not only as a football coach but as a human being. He made an impact obviously recruiting and as a coordinator. He's clearly a rising star as we talked to everyone around the country. There were four characteristics we were looking for in our new head coach. High character and integrity, proven recruiter, teacher and developer of talent, and who values culture."
   
Healy checks every box.
   
And now he's the coach charged with lifting Charlotte's young, energetic and enthusiastic football program to greater heights.
   
"This place is special. We get the chance to build our own history, our own story," Healy remarked. "We want fans screaming about Charlotte Athletics, that's my vision for this place. I feel like I'm living a dream. I always felt this job can be one of the top programs in college football. I think when you drive on this campus for the first time you get a chance to see the facilities and the resources this place has to offer - this place is really special. My family and I are really living a dream being here."

CHAPEL HILL – Eight "coaches who make a difference" by virtue of their exemplary sportsmanship will be honored by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association at the NCHSAA Annual Meeting.

The coaches have been selected for the Homer Thompson Memorial Eight Who Make a Difference award. The award is named in honor of the late Homer Thompson, the long-time Winston-Salem Parkland coach and member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame. Each honoree will receive the award at the Smith Center on May 3.

“Homer Thompson’s name is affixed to this award because he certainly did make a difference in the lives of many and truly was an outstanding role model,” said NCHSAA commissioner Davis Whitfield,

The winners were chosen by a special committee based on nominations from the member schools. They will receive a plaque as part of the Association's student services program.