Since our scoop report Thursday, the Carolina Football coaching search has obviously gone national. Such is the impact of the name Bill Belichick.
Here’s where things stand between North Carolina and Belichick, as we understand the situation, after talking to many sources over the past 30+ hours.
** The Zoom interview between Belichick and the UNC search committee earlier in the week turned what some felt would be a courtesy conversation into the birth of his full fledged candidacy. The depth of preparation and his detailed plan for what it would take to win a championship at UNC made a profound impact.
** North Carolina did indeed follow up its Zoom interview with Belichick earlier in the week by meeting with him in New York City on Thursday. And we’re told it was athletic director Bubba Cunningham and chancellor Lee Roberts that made that trip.
** UNC has discussed contract structure with Belichick, financial details, ideas for a coaching staff and a potential length of tenure and succession plan. However, our sources have both refuted the reports of a guaranteed succession plan for Belichick’s son and expressed that they would be shocked if Cunningham were to agree to that.
** Cunningham has not yet offered the job to Belichick, but Belichick has put UNC on the clock to make a decision, as he entertains other options. As of this writing, Cunningham still plans to meet with other candidates after their championship games. Those games are Tulane (Jon Sumrall) vs. Army (Jeff Monken) on Friday night and Iowa State (Matt Campbell) vs. Arizona State on Saturday.
** Matt Campbell is the one main candidate that UNC has not spoken to directly yet, as he’s wanted his sole focus to be on one of the biggest games of his career, with a berth in the College Football Playoff on the line. We’ve previously noted why Campbell is seemingly such a great candidate, as well as the known and potential obstacles that make this avenue uncertain. The earliest UNC could learn of his true viability is late Saturday.
** Cunningham is under growing pressure to choose Belichick. And that is not in reference to the national media groundswell, though that has been unprecedented for a Carolina Football coaching search. Support has been growing in Carolina circles among committee members, members of both boards, and football alums. But ultimately all sources have affirmed that this is Cunningham’s choice to make.
** The hope is to finalize the new hire and introduce him to the players at the scheduled Sunday team meeting at the Kenan Football Center. The NCAA Transfer Portal opens on Monday.
Here’s where things stand between North Carolina and Belichick, as we understand the situation, after talking to many sources over the past 30+ hours.
** The Zoom interview between Belichick and the UNC search committee earlier in the week turned what some felt would be a courtesy conversation into the birth of his full fledged candidacy. The depth of preparation and his detailed plan for what it would take to win a championship at UNC made a profound impact.
** North Carolina did indeed follow up its Zoom interview with Belichick earlier in the week by meeting with him in New York City on Thursday. And we’re told it was athletic director Bubba Cunningham and chancellor Lee Roberts that made that trip.
** UNC has discussed contract structure with Belichick, financial details, ideas for a coaching staff and a potential length of tenure and succession plan. However, our sources have both refuted the reports of a guaranteed succession plan for Belichick’s son and expressed that they would be shocked if Cunningham were to agree to that.
** Cunningham has not yet offered the job to Belichick, but Belichick has put UNC on the clock to make a decision, as he entertains other options. As of this writing, Cunningham still plans to meet with other candidates after their championship games. Those games are Tulane (Jon Sumrall) vs. Army (Jeff Monken) on Friday night and Iowa State (Matt Campbell) vs. Arizona State on Saturday.
** Matt Campbell is the one main candidate that UNC has not spoken to directly yet, as he’s wanted his sole focus to be on one of the biggest games of his career, with a berth in the College Football Playoff on the line. We’ve previously noted why Campbell is seemingly such a great candidate, as well as the known and potential obstacles that make this avenue uncertain. The earliest UNC could learn of his true viability is late Saturday.
** Cunningham is under growing pressure to choose Belichick. And that is not in reference to the national media groundswell, though that has been unprecedented for a Carolina Football coaching search. Support has been growing in Carolina circles among committee members, members of both boards, and football alums. But ultimately all sources have affirmed that this is Cunningham’s choice to make.
** The hope is to finalize the new hire and introduce him to the players at the scheduled Sunday team meeting at the Kenan Football Center. The NCAA Transfer Portal opens on Monday.
