Bill Belichick was unveiled as UNC’s new head coach on Thursday and announced upon his arrival that coaching in college was something he “always wanted to do.”
The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach has agreed to a five-year contract at UNC, where his late father was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55.
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Bill Belichick left the New England Patriots in January after 24 years and six Super Bowl titles with the team.
At Belichick’s introductory news conference, UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts came armed with a gift: a gray short-sleeved sweatshirt — a trademark from his NFL coaching days — bearing the UNC logo.
“I’ve always wanted to coach college football,” Belichick told the assembled reporters. “It never worked out.”
“I had some good years in the NFL, so it was good,” he added with his usual dry wit.
“This is really kind of a dream come true. I grew up in college football with my dad, and he was a Navy coach for 50 years, so as a kid all I knew was college football.”
“It’s great to be back home in the Carolinas and back to an environment I really grew up in.”
School trustees approved terms of the deal to hire Belichick as the new football coach earlier Thursday.
He sat between Roberts and UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, who paid homage by wearing a suit jacket with the sleeves cut off to mimic Belichick’s other-side look.
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Neil Reynolds spoke about Belichick’s amazing tenure in New England after announcing he was leaving the Patriots after 24 seasons
The 72-year-old Belichick has 333 career wins in the NFL, trailing only Don Shula’s 347 wins on the NFL record, while his 31 playoff victories are the most in league history – and He has been linked to other NFL jobs since his departure from the New England Patriots at the end of last season, most notably the Atlanta Falcons in January.
When asked about fan concerns that he might leave quickly for his next NFL job, Belichick said: “I didn’t come here to leave.”
“I’m here,” Bubba said, “to teach, develop and build a program the way I believe in.”
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Bill Belichick’s final press conference with the team after stepping down as coach of the New England Patriots
When asked how long he might want to continue coaching, Belichick quipped: “He beats work. My dad told me this: When you love what you do, it’s not work.”
“I love what I do. I love training.”
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