CHAPEL HILL — It’s too early to know what type of team North Carolina coach Bill Belichick assembles his first season, but off-field summer controversies have been intercepted in August and returned as on-the-practice-field football talk.
And that’s football paydirt.
Bill’s hiring in December was followed by months of self-inflicted wounds with a media focus on Bill’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, and her perceived interference in the program. But Steve Belichick, Bill’s son, has helped shift the conversation to football X’s and O’s instead of girlfriend X’s and O’s.
Maybe North Carolina waited too long to introduce the Tar Heels’ coordinators at midweek, including Steve as defensive coordinator.
Steve, 38, stepped to the podium at the Kenan Football Center at midweek and provided his vision of the upcoming season. He also offered some dry humor, including sarcasm when he was asked about living the celebrity shadow of his father as a six-time Super Bowl championship coach with the New England Patriots.
“I don’t think he’s that cool,” Steve replied with a grin. “That’s you guys’ opinion.”
Steve wore a hoodie – his father’s trademark – and there was a hint of Bill’s NFL monotone in Steve’s voice. But Steve made it clear it wasn’t easy for him to leave the University of Washington, where he was the Huskies’ 2024 defensive coordinator under head coach Jedd Fisch.
“I’m my own person,” Steve said. “I’ve said that before, but I’m doing my own thing. Being with him is important, but it’s not only piece of the decision. I’ve got a family to feed. I’ve got people to provide for. I don’t count on him to do that. I’m a man. It was tough decision to leave those guys (at Washington), but here I am. It’s time to go.”
Steve, who previously coached with his father at New England, improved the Huskies’ defensive ranking from 58th in 2023 while allowing 406.3 yards a game to 28th in 2024 yielding 328.4. The statistics belie Washington’s 6-7 record in 2024 after a 14-1 mark and College Football Playoff runner-up finish in 2023, but Washington won behind an explosive offense under quarterback Michael Pennix, who is now in the NFL with Atlanta.
At North Carolina, Belichick is tasked with improving a defense that ranked 72nd in the nation a year ago, allowing 375.8 yards a game. The low point was a 70-50 loss at home to James Madison. The Dukes from Virginia led 53-21 at halftime.
But something else to note was Steve didn’t sound like a kid following thoughts that were scripted for him. Steve is forever in his father’s shadow, but he emphasized he has tried to learn from coaches beyond his father.
“If you’ve got a good foundation with fundamentals, that’s a good place to start,” Steve said. “You try and push the limits and see how far you can take. We’re not going to drastically change their positions. We see how much they can do and how comfortable they are doing it. If they don’t’ like to do it, we’ll find someone else. If they want to do it, let’s give it a shot and see how it goes. I’m not a cookie-cutter guy. I’m not going to live inside a fence. I want to set the boundaries and see how far we can take it.”
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