CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bill Belichick will be formally introduced as North Carolina's next head football coach during a news conference in Chapel Hill on Thursday.
The news conference will be broadcast on WCNC Charlotte at 2 p.m. and streamed live on WCNC+ as well as the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.
Belichick, an eight-time Super Bowl champion whose career has spanned nearly 50 years, will be taking his first college head coaching job. His late father, Steve Belichick, was an assistant at UNC in the 1950s. The university shared a photo of Belichick at Kenan Stadium as a young boy after announcing him as the next coach.
The UNC Board of Trustees approved Belichick's five-year contract during an emergency meeting Thursday morning. The board's approval was a necessary step in formalizing the hire. The contract must still be approved by the UNC Board of Governors, which meets at 3 p.m.
"I am excited for the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill," Belichick said in a statement. "I grew up around college football with my Dad and treasured those times. I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill."
The announcement came after several days of speculation about UNC's chances of landing the 72-year-old coach. During an interview with ESPN's Pat McAfee, Belichick said he'd had some "good conversations" with UNC leadership. As part of the move, Belichick is bringing former NFL executive Mike Lombardi to serve as his general manager. Lombardi told reporters Thursday that the goal was to build a pro personnel department. Some college football insiders have speculated that Belichick's ability to lead the New England Patriots dynasty will translate to the current landscape of college football, with players expected to take part in revenue sharing as early as summer 2025.
Belichick replaces 73-year-old Mack Brown, who was fired after UNC's loss to Boston College. Brown previously said he planned to return to the school in 2025 before his dismissal.
