Bill Belichick has denied reports that he is considering an exit strategy. his role as head coach of North Carolina.
“Some of the reports that came out last week about me seeking a buyout and trying to get out of here and all that stuff are just categorically false,” Belichick said Monday in his first public comments since a blowout loss to Clemson earlier this month. “Glad to be here. Working towards our goals and process.”
During the second of two bye weeks in a three-week period, Belichick's status and future with the Tar Heels was such a hot topic that last Wednesday the university released brief statements from coach and athletics director Bubba Cunningham reaffirming the commitment between Belichick and the school. Reports said the 73-year-old wanted to return to NFL as a coach or in the media.
Monday's media turnout was twice as large as Belichick's usual game week. University Chancellor Lee Roberts and Cunningham, along with other senior athletics officials, were also present for the unusual incident in the middle of the college season.
“It’s a learning curve,” Belichick said of his time at UNC. “We're all in this together. But we're making a lot of progress, and this process will ultimately lead to the desired results, just like everywhere else I've been.”
The Tar Heels are 2-3 so far this season, and the team defeated under Belichickwho won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots.
“The learning curve has been steeper than we all expected,” Cunningham said. “The gap between expectations and results has been more severe than we expected, and that's what's getting a lot of attention.”
With just one game in nearly a month, the off-field drama has gained a lot of attention. However, Belichick was spotted at a high school game on Friday night, perhaps indicative of normal season functions from a recruiting standpoint. Belichick said the program is recruiting about 40 high school players for its next recruiting class.
Belichick is in the first year of a contract that guarantees $10 million in base and additional salary for each of the next two seasons. The team's general manager, Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive who is largely Belichick's partner on the college project, is earning $1.5 million for each of the next two seasons.
North Carolina has lost three games against Championship opponents, including a 38-10 win over Clemson in its last game. The Tar Heels gave up 28 points in the first quarter in that game, and many UNC fans left early, leaving the stadium half empty.
“Everyone's biggest concern is the final result, and I'm at the top of that list,” Belichick said. “But it's a process. You create a culture, you create a program, and eventually the results will come. When will that happen? Hopefully as soon as possible. We're working hard to get there.”
Also last week, the school announced that defensive backs coach Armond Hawkins was suspended for violating rules related to improper benefits. He is on leave while the school “investigates other potential actions causing harm” to the team and the school.
Turbulence occurs after months-long interest at the tabloid level featuring Belichick's 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, who was on the sidelines before the games.
