The whirlwind of the University of North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick to take over its football program has slowed down a bit in recent weeks. With practice starting back up in a few weeks, I have a feeling it will pick right back up.
Let me review some of the headlines, controversies, and stories that have surfaced since the December 12, 2024 hiring.
Belichick’s hiring brought instant scrutiny over the record-breaking contract and the makeup of his coaching staff, including his sons. His relationship with 24-year old Jordon Hudson has caused quite the stir. Player departures such as Amare Campbell entering the transfer portal barely made the news. But, tensions at UNC surfaced through faculty emails challenging the university’s major increase in football spending including debate about high assistant coach salaries and staff selection which includes friends and family of Belichick.
It will be an interesting 2025 season in Chapel Hill. We all know that wins will erase most of the questions and controversies over the hiring.
A lack of success on the field will only lead to more scrutiny off the field.
The emergence of a former pro football coach into the college game has not always brought success. Like Belichick, Bill Walsh is one of the NFL’s best head coaches of all time. He had a good first season at Stanford, but then went 7-14 over his next two seasons.
Lovie Smith did not find success at Illinois either. Dave Wannstedt had minimal success at Pittsburgh. Mike Riley had mediocre seasons at Oregon State after he was with the San Diego Chargers.
Head coaches normally jump from college to the NFL. They rarely go backwards and go back to college after finding success in the pros. Belichick is making his college debut as a 73-year old rookie.
However, if anyone can pull this off, you would think one of the greatest coaches of all time could do it.
It all starts, on the field, in a few months.
