Latest news with #BillBelichick
Fox News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Bill Belichick's Arrival at UNC Headlines NFL's Sideline Influence in The ACC
The group of roughly 60 reporters had crowded around the table Thursday long before Bill Belichick arrived to take questions in his first run through ACC preseason media days as North Carolina's football coach. Some massed at each end, multiple rows deep. Others filled rows of chairs positioned in the middle, in front of a platform filled with video cameras on tripods to capture the words of the man who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles. "It's Bill Belichick — of course everybody's going to circle him up and try to ask him as many questions as possible," UNC linebacker Thaddeus Dixon said with a chuckle from his own nearby table, adding: "He's got so much aura." It was a sign of how Belichick draws a watch-his-every-step crowd as he gears up for his first season as a college football coach. Yet, he's also the headliner for a larger pro influence that has arrived in the ACC, with the league boasting three former NFL head coaches — the most of any conference — just as the dawn of the revenue-sharing era is making the college ranks look more like the pros than ever before. He joins Boston College's Bill O'Brien, the former Houston Texans head coach who also worked as a Belichick assistant in the NFL. And there's former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich, who is leading Stanford as an interim coach this season. O'Brien is in his second year with the Eagles and was previously head coach at Penn State. Reich took over in the spring after the firing of Troy Taylor for off-field concerns, coming after a call from former player-turned-Stanford general manager Andrew Luck for what he has described as a one-year move. Then there's Belichick, the NFL lifer who "always wanted" to give college coaching a try yet never seemed likely to do so — until he missed out on NFL openings, took a year off and UNC hired him in December. Belichick said he has talked with numerous coaches who have coached at both levels, mentioning people like Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban. "Each situation is a little bit different, but it's a great game and I love being a part of it," Belichick said earlier Thursday before the packed afternoon interview session. "It's different, but it's still football. It's fun." The Big Ten is the only other league with multiple former NFL head coaches in Nebraska's Matt Rhule (previously with the Panthers) and Rutgers' Greg Schiano (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The SEC has Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin (the former Oakland Raiders), while UConn coach Jim Mora Jr. previously coached in Atlanta and Seattle. New Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert said the ACC trio has brought "notoriety" to the league, along with a challenge for coaches of the ACC's other 14 football-playing members. "Obviously, Coach Belichick is one of the best coaches in our profession," Dickert said. "But you know, this isn't professional football. You know college football is a unique and different challenge. From the schematics to the tempo to the recruiting, there's a whole different world." Still, the arrival of revenue sharing in college — with schools now allowed to pay athletes directly following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement — has at least some parallels to NFL business. The settlement allows schools to share up to about $20.5 million with athletes, divided among sports, with football positioned to get the biggest cut due to its role as the revenue-driver in college athletics. That has made college football look closer to a pro model than ever, even as Reich noted Tuesday: "Football is football." Meanwhile, O'Brien can see value in his NFL experience in handling what amounts to the college version of a salary cap. "I embrace it," O'Brien said. "I think it's great that these guys can make money. I'm not fighting it at all, but at the same time, it's 'Here's what it is, and here's why it is.' I'm not uncomfortable in those conversations. I think my experience in pro football has helped me a lot with those types of conversations." It seems like a natural pivot, too, for Belichick considering he and general manager Michael Lombardi have leaned into messaging, painting UNC as the NFL's "33rd" team. It's part of UNC's audacious bet on Belichick to reshape the program, which includes the coach being set to make $30 million guaranteed for the next three seasons in a five-year deal. The ACC will look to capitalize on Belichick's influence while it lasts, as rumors swirl about a possible conference exit by UNC, which is reportedly exploring a potential move to the SEC whenever the next round of collegiate realignment happens, according to On3. As far as Belichick's future with the Tar Heels, the 73-year-old coach is business as usual and remains unconcerned about the rumor mill or newfound spotlight on his personal life — the predominant topic of discussion in recent months. Belichick's girlfriend, 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, has rarely been seen around the team, and inferences that she has been overly involved in Belichick's work at UNC have been "wildly exaggerated," according to ESPN. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Fanfare follows Bill Belichick at ACC media days, but UNC's coach handles it his way
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The day was almost done. Bill Belichick had finished tackling 26 minutes of questions from a room of 70 reporters and 22 cameras. He stopped to grab some ESPN-branded boxes of popcorn at a booth in the hallway. There was a problem, though. 'You got one that's not empty?' he asked with a laugh. Advertisement The booth attendant handed him a pair of boxes filled to the brim, an apology for the unwitting prank on North Carolina's new coach, who also happens to be the most accomplished NFL coach of all time and the biggest new face in college football. Talking season was complete. Six hours of mostly uninterrupted media obligations were more than enough for the famously terse coach. Time to celebrate with a snack. Belichick has arrived at the ACC Kickoff — Matt Baker (@MattBakerCFB) July 24, 2025 At 8:47 a.m., Belichick exited a black SUV parked under a bridge and ambled into a side street entrance of the Hilton Uptown Charlotte holding a black backpack. There are no NFL media days. Thursday's ACC media days marathon was the latest new experience for Belichick, a uniquely college-football-in-July tradition. If he were ranking the responsibilities of his new job, it probably wouldn't be high on the list. But this is Belichick's new world, and the first-time college coach handled it … like any other college coach. Just with more fanfare. 'I always wanted to coach in college football. I grew up in college football. I tried to go into college football,' Belichick said, 'and that didn't work out.' In 1975, Lou Holtz hired Belichick as a 23-year-old graduate assistant at NC State but before Belichick could start the job, his position was eliminated amid the institution of Title IX. The Baltimore Colts hired him later that year as a special assistant, diverting his career into the NFL for almost five decades. 'That worked out fine,' Belichick said. At 73, he's finally in college football. To his peers, it's surreal. 'There was more than one occasion that I went, 'Yep, that's Bill Belichick right there, right here in the ACC head coaches meetings,'' Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. 'It's the most 2025 thing ever.' Advertisement Swinney noted how much he's learned from Belichick since his arrival in the league. Later, Belichick scoffed at the awe from the two-time national champion. 'Ah, come on,' Belichick said with a laugh. 'We're all learning from Dabo.' A few minutes after Belichick arrived, he met with a small group of local media in a tight conference room for 14 minutes before leaving the table to turn the room over to 'our stars right here,' referring to his players. Belichick noted that he has attended more than 10 donor events with general manager Michael Lombardi, his longtime assistant who later pivoted to a career in media and hosted a podcast with Belichick last season before joining him in Chapel Hill. Asked about his future at North Carolina, Belichick, whose ensemble included a Carolina blue handkerchief and a dark blue 'BB' monogram on his shirt cuff, tapped into his signature short wind. He declined any examination of what lies ahead. 'The future right now for us is the start of camp,' he said. He also discussed another quirk of being a college coach: Poring over class reports from his players. He never had to worry about Tom Brady's class attendance or grades. He does now with every one of his players, more than 70 of whom are new, including quarterback Gio Lopez, a transfer from South Alabama. Belichick said he and Lombardi are personally involved in keeping up with daily academic reports on his roster. 'We don't want players to fall behind,' Belichick said. 'Once you fall two or three weeks behind academically, it's hard to keep up.' Belichick avoided the rows of radio reporters in the hotel lobby and spent much of the morning in a hallway outside the green room for players and coaches, down the hall from private rooms for interviews with SiriusXM and the ACC Digital Network. Advertisement Most coaches and players sat for requested interviews on the event's lower level. Belichick abstained. A little after 11 a.m., Belichick took a lengthy phone call. As he spoke, a group of people approached. They lingered in the hallway waiting for Belichick and began to leave before a UNC official stopped them and made sure they got time with the head Tar Heel. Dream On 3 is a Charlotte nonprofit that helps fulfill 'sports-themed dreams' for kids with life-altering conditions, disabilities and mental health challenges, according to its website. It works closely with the ACC, and on Thursday, hosted the Burrell family. Belichick rewarded their patience when he found a break in his obligations. He spent a few quiet moments with the family, taking photos and signing footballs. 'That was pretty much the coolest thing ever,' said Cameron Burrell, a Clemson fan and Charlotte resident who said his son suffers from a third-degree heart block and his daughter suffers from epilepsy. 'We were all kind of starstruck,' said Maddy Fleming, the program director for Dream On 3. 'We were all just like, 'Is this real life?'' After another interview and lunch in the green room, Belichick spent a few minutes chatting with athletic director Bubba Cunningham before sitting down with ESPN's 'SportsCenter.' Around the corner, more than 40 cameras waited. But as soon as Belichick sat for the interview, cameras swarmed. Two veteran ACC reporters remarked they'd never witnessed a scene like it in their years covering the conference's media days. All eyes on Bill Belichick 👀 — ACC Network (@accnetwork) July 24, 2025 Belichick smiled and laughed as 'SportsCenter' showed a photo of him as a toddler from his father's more than three decades as a coach at Navy. Later, Belichick told a reporter he'd like to one day schedule a game with Navy. 'That'd be tough,' he said with a laugh. As he made his way into the large news conference room, cameras and reporters followed him as if summoned by a tractor beam. Advertisement Belichick took the stage and jokingly shielded his eyes from the blinding light before making a 4 1/2-minute opening statement and taking a few questions about the role of fullbacks in the sport, why he came to North Carolina and roster building in the modern game. Absent from Belichick's time on stage and in the breakout room with reporters: Any discussion of his personal life, the most-talked-about topic of Belichick's UNC tenure thus far. Jordon Hudson, his 24-year-old girlfriend, did not accompany him to the event. North Carolina has reiterated that Hudson handles Belichick's personal engagements and is not a university employee. After ceding the microphone to defensive back Thaddeus Dixon, Belichick sat back and relished his immediate impact on his players. Asked about the magnitude of a season opener against TCU, certain to be watched by millions, Dixon reiterated it was just another game. Players just needed to execute. Belichick leaned back in his seat with a satisfied smile. A few minutes later, as Dixon lauded the toughness he's seen in the team, Belichick reached over for a fist bump from wide receiver Jordan Shipp. 'You can't make plays on Saturday until you do it in practice,' Dixon added, drawing a large nod from his coach sitting quietly on stage. A question about Shipp's unfortunate childhood nickname – Duke, also North Carolina's chief rival – drew a belly laugh from Belichick. As NC State coach Dave Doeren took the stage following Belichick, he remarked on the suddenly cavernous room, noting it got a little sleepier. Belichick crowd vs non-BB crowd… We are just the worst. — 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 24, 2025 But next door, a breakout room with one row of seats on Day 1 and 2 was expanded to three rows and a riser for cameras for the final day, featuring North Carolina, NC State, Duke and conference power and title favorite Clemson. When Belichick arrived, those 22 mounted cameras and around 70 reporters were waiting. While every other coach fielded questions himself, the crush of media required a UNC official to moderate Belichick's session, calling on reporters who peppered the coach with questions. Advertisement He was long-winded on his recruiting strategy. 'Be authentic. This is who we are. We're not really going to change too much. If this works for you, this is a great place. If it doesn't, then honestly, you're better off going somewhere else. We're not trying to overhype or oversell something we can't deliver. We're trying to sell who we are,' he said. 'I think a lot of people want that. But for the ones that don't, it's better for both of us that they go somewhere else.' He was short on questions about the format of the College Football Playoff – ask Nick Saban or Kirk Ferentz, who would know better, he said. He stumped for Mike Shanahan to be included in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and waxed nostalgic on his relationship with Boston College coach Bill O'Brien. He also defended the House settlement bringing an end to walk-ons in college football, arguing that adding 20 more available scholarships for programs could be a net positive for athletes and the sport, even though technically there would be no more walk-ons. He joked with a reporter who was an alum of Foxborough High that he could no longer use his New England Patriots-era motivational tactic of warning players he could find a better player at the nearby high school. A little after 3:30, his day was complete. Belichick made his way back into the green room and finished his popcorn. He re-emerged and refilled his tea, squeezing a few lemons and pouring a pair of sugar packets over the ice before pouring the tea into his plastic cup. He took a few sips, and his players joined him near the bank of elevators. He stepped inside and made his way to the black SUV waiting to take him home to Chapel Hill via Interstate 85. The talking is over. Belichick? He's on to training camp. — The Athletic's Matt Baker contributed to this report.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bill Belichick: North Carolina is a pro program, we have an NFL approach in college
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick says he's coaching his college football team like he coached in the NFL. Asked at the ACC media day if he's trying to introduce NFL-level schemes and concepts to college football, Belichick answered, "That's exactly what we're trying to do. That's my philosophy." Belichick said he views the Tar Heels like a pro team that just needs some minor adjustments for younger players. "It's a pro program," Belichick said. "Practice, training, food, schemes, terminology, it's all a pro program. Not to the extent that we did it in the NFL — there will be fewer plays, fewer adjustments — but it will be along those lines." Belichick said to the extent that he'll coach differently, it's largely about the differences between NCAA rules, such as college football's wider hashmarks and the overtime format that takes place mostly in the red zone. "There's some things I don't think we'll need at this level and other things that we are," Belichick said. "Based on hashmarks and things like that that are difference, the overtime system — the red area could potentially come up a lot more than in the NFL on a percentage basis. Things like that that you just have to take into consideration. But fundamentally, we're going to do as much as we can as a pro system."
NBC Sports
10 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Bill Belichick: North Carolina is a pro program, we have an NFL approach in college
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick says he's coaching his college football team like he coached in the NFL. Asked at the ACC media day if he's trying to introduce NFL-level schemes and concepts to college football, Belichick answered, 'That's exactly what we're trying to do. That's my philosophy.' Belichick said he views the Tar Heels like a pro team that just needs some minor adjustments for younger players. 'It's a pro program,' Belichick said. 'Practice, training, food, schemes, terminology, it's all a pro program. Not to the extent that we did it in the NFL — there will be fewer plays, fewer adjustments — but it will be along those lines.' Belichick said to the extent that he'll coach differently, it's largely about the differences between NCAA rules, such as college football's wider hashmarks and the overtime format that takes place mostly in the red zone. 'There's some things I don't think we'll need at this level and other things that we are,' Belichick said. 'Based on hashmarks and things like that that are difference, the overtime system — the red area could potentially come up a lot more than in the NFL on a percentage basis. Things like that that you just have to take into consideration. But fundamentally, we're going to do as much as we can as a pro system.'
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bill Belichick thankful to be coaching UNC, highlights team growth at ACC Kickoff
What type of player does Bill Belichick like to coach? Larry Fedora fizzled out. Mack Brown didn't work during his second stint. This offseason, the UNC football team went big with its latest head coaching hire: 8-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick. Despite never previously coaching at the college level, Belichick's NFL resumé speaks for itself. He turned the New England Patriots from a decent franchise into the NFL's most-feared dynasty, developing the greatest football player to walk this earth in Tom Brady. Belichick is no stranger to the Tar Heels, though. Belichick's dad, Steve, was an assistant coach in Chapel Hill from 1953-1955. At the ACC Kickoff event on Thursday afternoon in Charlotte, Belichick spoke about the opportunity to come back and coach college football, digging in on player development. 'I've always wanted to coach in college – and I'm glad to have the opportunity to be at a great school like Carolina," Belichick said in front of a packed media room. "The great thing about working with college players is the growth and development that I've seen with them. Developing players is really what coaching is. We take great pride in that. A Carolina player is a player who wants to be a good football player, who wants to work hard, who wants to make a commitment towards improving on a regular basis, both training and team execution on the field." UNC hired Belichick back in December 2024, so he's now going on month seven working with his new players. Several people are expecting a championship-caliber Tar Heels team in 2025, but it all depends on how Belichick develops his guys. The first opportunity for North Carolina fans – and the entire college football world – to see offseason development pay off will be Monday, September 1 at 8 p.m. in Kenan Stadium. UNC hosts TCU in the final game of Week 1, on ESPN, under the lights. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
