UNC football head coach Bill Belichick delivers pizza to students on game day

Excitement due to recent coaching changes is brewing for UNC football. This newfound optimism culminated in an unconventional way: pizza.

The hiring of former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick signified the beginning of a new era for UNC football. 

It marked a shift from the old era of college football to one that's becoming more like the NFL. But the change was also felt off the field. 

Recently hired Director of Football Operations Alec Kerr sent out an email stating that Belichick wanted to deliver Domino's pizzas to UNC fraternity and sorority houses ahead of the UNC-Duke men’s basketball game on Feb. 1. Individuals that work for UNC delivered them. 

“I don't think we’ve ever heard of anyone doing anything like that at UNC for a frat like that before,” Griffin Bohmfalk, president of Kappa Sigma Alpha Mu chapter fraternity, said. 

Skepticism was the initial reaction, though. Pizza delivery courtesy of Belichick seemed so unlikely that some fraternity members thought the email was fraudulent. 

“At first, we were like 'OK this is a scam,'” Bohmfalk said. “That was actually the first reaction everyone had. 'No way this is real, right?'” 

Screenshots of the email from Kerr went viral on social media platforms including X and Instagram.  

“I thought it was cool,” Samuel Speer, venerable dean of Acacia, said. “It's good for UNC football to have more attention.” 

Still, there was no verification that the proposal was true, until it happened.

Kappa Sigma held their tailgate with Kappa Alpha and Zeta Psi. The moment when the pepperoni and cheese pizzas were delivered is when it hit — the email was real and Belichick was behind it all. When the pizza arrived, the three fraternities were sharing the courtyard in front of Little Fraternity Court while the band Summer Flood played.

“They knew they were delivering these pizzas with the note," Noah Lyon-Hartley, member of Kappa Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, said. "So they said, 'Courtesy of coach.' They actually handed it to our band and our band hopped on the microphone and held up the pizza for everyone.” 

The pizza symbolized more than just food, though. It was a turning point for North Carolina's new football regime. 

"The fact that he would think immediately of the student population, it was really cool,” Bohmfalk said. "It was exactly what the student body at UNC was looking for after our last football season.”  

Connecting with students early into his tenure appears to be a priority for Belichick. He has breathed life into a program starved for change. A simple act of kindness from Belichick symbolized the larger trend — increased optimism surrounding North Carolina football. Belichick’s notoriety gave the moment a surreal feeling for the recipients of the pizza. 

“It signals just a big change in the culture and atmosphere that he is looking for,” Lyon-Hartley said.

Hiring a six-time Super Bowl champion reflects the desire to mold UNC football into a beacon for professional football hopefuls. And while this is the main objective, Belichick also wants to build a connection with the student fanbase. 

And this connection began with a simple gesture: delivering pizza. 

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com