Q&A: UNC football head coach Bill Belichick discusses transition to college coaching

On Dec. 11, 2024, Bill Belichick was named the new head coach of the UNC football team. The former NFL coach won a total of eight Super Bowls, six of which came as head coach of the New England Patriots. 

The Daily Tar Heel Sports desk interviewed Belichick over email in February. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. 

The Daily Tar Heel: Considering your pre-existing connection with UNC because of your dad's history with the football team, how have you honored or thought about him in the two months you've been here?

Bill Belichick: I have thought about him a lot. I have the programs from when he coached here with pictures of him and the coaching staff. Every time I see the Koman Practice Complex, I think of my dad because he coached Bill Koman for three years at UNC.

DTH: What has surprised you most about this job or transition?

Belichick: No big surprises about the job — just some new things that have been interesting and great learning experiences. My biggest surprise about the transition was six inches of snow in Chapel Hill. I was not expecting that.

DTH: Your son, Steve, made the transition from the NFL to college coaching at Washington for the 2024 season. What did you learn from his transition, and how have you implemented that into your own experience?

Belichick: There is a significant carryover from the NFL to college football, but there are many differences, too. Steve has been helpful with his experience at Washington in recruiting, staffing and general planning. I also have several staff members who were in college football last season at major football programs: Louisville, Oregon, LSU, Arizona, Western Kentucky and UNC.

DTH: General manager Michael Lombardi said at his press conference that both of you view UNC as the 33rd NFL team. What does that mean to you? What does success look like, on and off the field, for the 33rd NFL team?

Belichick: I think what Michael meant by that was that we are operating like an NFL team. Almost everything we do has roots in the NFL, and the college landscape has changed in the last few years. Right now, we are implementing an NFL program, with some modifications that fit UNC.

DTH: From attending basketball games and ordering pizza, engaging with students seems to be a priority as you take the helm of the football program. Why was that important to you?

Belichick: I grew up around college football for 22 years before I coached in the NFL — I want to support all of the UNC sports teams, and I want the student body to support the football team. I cannot connect to every student and member of the UNC community, but I can reach out to let them know that I respect the students, the student athletes and the great brand of UNC.

DTH: What are your plans heading into spring practice, and what will those weeks look like for the team and coaching staff?

Belichick: We will go one step at a time — we will try to have a successful day on day No. 1 and string together multiple productive days. Hopefully, those will accumulate and our team will improve on a regular and consistent basis. We have a long way to go and the team has worked hard in the off-season program to be in condition to practice. The players and staff will work hard together to earn each other's confidence and trust this spring, so that we can get off to a good start when we begin training camp in August.

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