Bill Belichick has officially become the head football coach of the University of North Carolina, signing a contract that runs through the end of 2029. The 72-year-old coach will make $10 million per season, with an official base salary of $1 million and a total of $9 million in “supplemental income.”
Belichick’s deal makes him one of the top 10 highest-paid head coaches in college football, with only seven other coaches making $10 million or more per year. The highest-paid coach in the country is Georgia’s Kirby Smart at over $13 million per season, while Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Texas’ Steve Sarkisian are among the top five.
The contract also includes a number of incentives that could trigger larger paydays for Belichick. He would receive a $750,000 bonus if the Tar Heels reach the College Football Playoff, and a $1.75 million bonus if they win a national title. Additionally, Belichick would receive a $150,000 bonus for reaching a bowl game, a $350,000 bonus for reaching an “elite” non-playoff bowl, and a $250,000 bonus for a top 25 ranking at the end of the regular season.
The contract also includes a buyout clause, with Belichick owed $10 million if he were to leave the university for a job in the NFL before June 1, and a lower $1 million buyout if he were to leave after June 1.
Despite reported interest from several NFL teams, Belichick has indicated that he is committed to the program, using his new salary to build a playoff roster through the new Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) system.
