The UNC Tar Heels have officially named former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick as their next head coach. Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl winner, will follow in the footsteps of his father, Steve, who served as UNC’s running backs coach in the 1950s. He will also join his son, Stephen, who is currently the defensive coordinator at Washington.
Belichick’s decision to leave the NFL, where he spent 24 seasons as the Patriots’ head coach, has raised eyebrows. Nick Wright of “First Things First” believes that Belichick has agreed to a list of demands and is willing to forgo coaching in the NFL again. Wright suggests that Belichick is concerned about repeating the cycle of failure and is taking the first available chair, even if it’s the second-best men’s sports program at a college.
FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt is optimistic about Belichick’s chances at UNC, citing the college world’s annual cycle of constructing rosters and the importance of evaluating talent. Klatt believes that Belichick’s transactional-style coaching could thrive in the college environment.
However, Colin Cowherd of “The Herd” is not convinced that Belichick’s move to UNC will be successful. Cowherd believes that Belichick’s personality is not suited for college football, where charisma and relationships with players are crucial. He also thinks that Belichick is only interested in the job temporarily, with the goal of eventually giving it to his son.
Belichick has signed a five-year deal with UNC, but Cowherd believes that he has other plans in mind. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Belichick’s tenure, he will take over for Mack Brown, who was let go after a 6-6 season in his second stint as the program’s head coach.