Belichick Debuts Winning with UNC and Confirms Ban to the Patriots

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bill Belichick, the coach with the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history, has achieved his first victory as a college coach. Belichick earned his number 1 victory in the university field, and the 334 overall, when the University of North Carolina recovered from its disappointing initial performance against TCU and defeated Charlotte on Saturday night, with a score of 20-3.

It’s great, but it’s really about the team. It was disappointing on Monday night against TCU, but these guys bounced back, players, coaches, staff, support staff, and just went back to work. They were determined to have a better result. I’m really proud of what they did. They deserve the credit for tonight.

Bill Belichick

After a 48-14 defeat that included two defensive touchdowns by the Horned Frogs, Belichick praised the team’s ability to put the performance behind them and focus on the fundamentals. UNC led 17-3 at halftime, ran for 148 yards, and didn’t turn the ball over against Charlotte. Meanwhile, the criticized Tar Heels defense held the 49ers to just 21 yards on the ground, five days after TCU ran for 258. The news cycle following Monday’s defeat had been unfavorable for Belichick and the Tar Heels, with “a lot of negativity from the outside,” as he said, including reports that the New England Patriots scouts, with whom Belichick won six Super Bowls, have been banned from the North Carolina facilities. Belichick confirmed this on Saturday, saying the decision was in direct response to a closed-door edict in New England.

It’s obvious that I am not welcome at their facilities, so they are not welcome at ours.

Bill Belichick

Belichick has had a bitter separation from New England and owner Bob Kraft since leaving the Patriots after the 2023 season, with multiple disputes erupting in the media in recent months. Belichick questioned Kraft’s comments that hiring him had been a “big risk”, issuing a statement in July saying that he was the one who took the risk by accepting the job. In a Boston Globe story last month, Belichick seemed to make another criticism, saying that one of the advantages of his job in North Carolina is that “there is no owner, no owner’s son”, referring to Jonathan Kraft.

On Saturday, Belichick seemed to be in a much better mood, although not exactly effervescent in his celebration. When asked if the team had given Belichick a game ball to celebrate his first win with the Tar Heels, senior Gavin Gibson laughed and said: “If we had tried, I think he would have looked at us and said ‘No'”. Instead, Belichick pointed to UNC’s determination to clear the slate after Monday’s ugly defeat and offer some renewed hope that the Tar Heels would not give up.

It was clear in the locker room and when we went out to the practice field that there was a… greater level of determination and commitment. It was good to see that we improved.

Bill Belichick

North Carolina hosts Richmond next week before heading to UCF to close out its non-conference schedule.