Bill Belichick encouraging former North Carolina players to be around his program

Bill Belichick announced his complete coaching staff ahead of his inaugural season as North Carolina head coach. It features a mix of coaches who Belichick has crossed paths during his NFL career, but made sure to keep running backs coach and former UNC star Natrone Means on staff.

As Belichick implenents his new culture in Chapel Hill, he revealed how much retaining that Carolina identity is to him moving forward. That includes welcoming back former players to be around the program and help out behind the scenes.

“We want all of our alumni to come back, both football players and non-football players, other people who are part of the program and supporters of the program,” Belichick explained. “So we welcome all those people back. I’m sure you’ll see a lot of former UNC players around here. Some are on the staff, Natrone (Means), for example.

“Some are on the staff, some are in other capacities in the organization or at the university, and some will be here visiting. So I won’t give anybody names or anything, but if you guys do some good detective work, maybe you’ll be able to spot a couple.”

Means is a fifth-year member of the North Carolina staff and a 20-year coaching veteran. Moreover, he’s a Tar Heels legend. When he was a player for the Tar Heels, he became a two-time first team All-ACC selection. He would finished his career with 3,074 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns to go with 61 receptions for 500 yards.

He enjoyed a seven-year NFL career after leaving Chapel Hill. He even made an appearance in Super Bowl XXIX.

Elsewhere on the staff, Belichick retained Caleb Pickrell from last year. He arriven in Chapel Hill as an offensive graduate assistant in March of 2022 before moving to the role of offensive analyst for the 2023 season. His offical title under Belichick is ‘offensive assistant.’

Keeping that bit of Carolina tradition, and familiarity while bringing in some coaches with NFL pedigree is likely to create a unique atmosphere in Chapel Hill. Belichick said that he wants North Carolina to be essentially a feeder system for NFL prospects, and having them coached by ones who have succeeded at that level is the start of how Belichick plans to get there.

Fans won’t be able to see what Belichick’s Tar Heels have to offer until after the summer since UNC will not have a spring game this season, Tar Heels general manager Michael Lombardi announced. That means the first time fans will be able to see Belichick’s North Carolina team won’t be until the season opener on Monday, Sept. 1 against TCU at home.