It’s now official.
North Carolina’s football coaching staff has been announced under first-year college head coach Bill Belichick.
As shown in the tweet below on X (formerly Twitter), Bill’s sons, Brian and Steve Belichick, are playing key roles in helping guide the program toward success. This comes after a few disappointing seasons for the Tar Heels, despite having NFL-caliber quarterbacks like Sam Howell of the Seattle Seahawks and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots.
Jamie Collins (inside linebackers), Ty Nichols (outside linebackers), Bob Diaco (defensive line), and Armond Hawkins (cornerbacks) are joining North Carolina’s staff to help bolster the defense and keep opposing offenses out of the end zone. Last season, UNC’s defense struggled, giving up an average of 28.08 points per game (365 total). Through the air, they surrendered 2,942 yards and 19 touchdowns, while on the ground they allowed 2,268 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
It’s clear there’s plenty of work to be done to improve those numbers. But with Steve Belichick stepping in as defensive coordinator, there’s optimism that things will take a major turn this fall.
On offense, UNC faced its fair share of challenges last season, particularly after Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in the opener against Minnesota. That left the offense in the hands of Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell, with Criswell eventually taking over as the permanent starter and leading the team the rest of the way.
Freddie Kitchens is back on staff following Mack Brown’s departure, serving as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. He’ll be working alongside Will Friend (offensive line), Matt Lombardi (quarterbacks), Natrone Means (running backs), and Garrick McGee (wide receivers).
Ready to coach ‘em up this spring 🫡
🔗 https://t.co/q3CKrWv8Ej pic.twitter.com/aAllbrdduW
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) March 3, 2025
Much of Carolina’s offensive production came on the ground, thanks in large part to Omarion Hampton’s standout season—rushing for 1,660 yards on 281 carries with 15 touchdowns. Replacing that level of production won’t be easy. As a team, UNC averaged 30.92 points per game and recorded 273 first downs (125 rushing and 122 passing).
In Mack Brown’s final season, the Tar Heels tallied 26 rushing touchdowns compared to 18 through the air. Moving forward, it’ll be important for North Carolina to develop a more balanced attack, keeping defenses guessing and allowing for a more versatile offense.
With March already here, the countdown is on—less than six months until the season opener.
The Bill Belichick era has officially begun in Chapel Hill.
