Bill Belichick Appears Ready to Win at North Carolina

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Holding a sweatshirt his late father Steve Belichick wore as an assistant coach at North Carolina, Bill Belichick held his first press conference on Dec. 13 as the Tar Heels' new head football coach. Belichick, who takes on his first collegiate program as a head coach, was not shy about why he's in Chapel Hill, N.C.

“It beats working,” Belichick, 72, said, On3 reported. “My dad told me this: 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’s some good ones and some bad ones, but they’re all learning experiences.

“And working with young kids with the energy and enthusiasm to want to be good, to want to be successful, it’s great every day to wake up and come into that environment,” he said.

Bill Belichick Committed to UNC

Belichick made no secret about his desire to become a head coach again in the NFL. When those doors closed, it sent him off to an offseason full of media opportunities. One reporter at the introductory press conference asked about the possibility of Belichick going back to the pros.

“Yeah, I didn’t come here to leave,” Belichick said. He won six Super Bowls during his tenure with the New England Patriots and was part of two other NFL championships with the New York Giants as an assistant coach.

“I’ve always wanted to coach in college football,” Belichick said, The Associated Press reported. “It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK. But this is really kind of a dream come true.”

It has not taken him more than a few hours to start putting some pieces in place for his time at North Carolina. Michael Lombardi, who worked closely with Belichick when both were with the New England Patriots, was named general manager for the Tar Heels. Lombardi was present at Belichick's press conference.

Belichick also made some news regarding his coaching staff. He said that he's hired Freddie Kitchens to be on board. Kitchens is currently the Tar Heels' interim head coach, tight ends coach and run game coordinator. He was put into the interim coach role after Mack Brown was fired. Kitchens will coach North Carolina (6-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast conference) when it plays Connecticut (8-4 Independent) in the Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park in Boston on Dec. 28.

More details about Belichick's contract were revealed on Dec. 13.

Belichick's Contract Has Incentives

Belichick agreed to a five-year deal at North Carolina worth $10 million per year—$1 million in base salary and $9 million in supplemental income, On3 reported. The first three years are guaranteed but the final two are not. In addition, his buyout sits at $10 million before June 1, 2025. That figure drops to $1 million after that date.

Belichick can earn up to $3.5 million per year in bonuses, according to the contract term sheet. If North Carolina appears in the ACC championship game, then he would net $200,000. Now, with a victory, the bonus increases to $300,000. Other contract details clearly spell out the financial goals Belichick can reach to earn more.

It would not be too surprising to see Belichick add other staff members who have previous NFL experience. That is the world in which he is most familiar and having "his guys" around can bring Belichick a sense of balance and stability. Plenty of eyes will closely watch to see how well Belichick can adapt to the world of college football. He's coaching college kids at this level, not grown men.