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Bill Belichick and North Carolina: ESPN insider gives latest on UNC’s pursuit of Super Bowl-winning coach
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Bill Belichick emerged earlier this week as a person of interest in North Carolina’s search for a head coach to replace Mack Brown.
Details have emerged that Belichick, 72, is interested in returning to coaching and would be open to a move to the college ranks. He is said to be seeking a “coach in waiting” spot for his son, Stephen, on his staff. And North Carolina is said to be open to such an arrangement.
During a hit on ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday, insider Pete Thamel offered the latest on Carolina’s courtship of the Super Bowl-winning coach.
“The sides have talked and they actually met in New York City earlier this week. Right now, Bill Belichick has not been offered and nothing is imminent right now,” Thamel reported. “This is something Bill Belichick has seriously considered, and he’s done a deep dive on UNC and returning to college. For right now, sources cast this as unlikely.”
“This is something that Bill Belichick has seriously considered, and he’s done a deep dive on UNC and returning to college. For right now, sources cast this as unlikely, so we’ll just say, it is what it is.” – Pete Thamel pic.twitter.com/WAYlvOpMQE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 7, 2024
Both Paul Finebaum and Nick Saban have said that Belichick would be a strong hire for Carolina. He’s arguably the greatest coach in NFL history. He would, however, become the oldest active FBS head coach if the Tar Heels were to hire him.
Belichick is believed to be on a shortlist of candidates that reportedly includes Tulane coach Jon Sumrall and Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, among others. Belichick has been out of coaching since he and the New England Patriots agreed to part ways in January 2024.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
