Mack Brown claims UNC is caring about football for 'the first time in North Carolina history' under Bill Belichick

Mack Brown notices a major change in the level of enthusiam for football at North Carolina since the hiring of Bill Belichick this offseason. The former Tar Heels coach has witnessed a level of support from the university that he didn’t even see during his two separate stints with the program, the latter of which ended this offseason.

It’s no secret that UNC has always been a basketball school, but the hiring of Belichick has resulted in increased commitment in football. Perhaps to the greatest degree the university has ever seen.

“The first thing, Colin, Chancellor Lee Roberts is committed to football big-time, for the first time in North Carolina history,” Brown said in an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “They are really wanting football to be good, so they’re all in and that gives them a chance to be successful. Bill is arguably the best coach of any sport. When you win that many Super Bowls, whatever level, the man can coach.”

Belichick brings with him an unparalled reputation after winning six Super Bowls as the coach of the New England Patriots from 2000-23. If you count two Super Bowls he won as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants as well, it brings his overall total to eight.

Belichick has never coached on the college level, but not many are worried about his ability to transition. Especially with the NIL and the transfer portal causing college football to resemble the NFL, Mack Brown believe North Carolina is set up to find success quickly under Bill Belichick.

“He can evaluate, because he had to bring in all those kids at the Patriots,” Brown said. “And now, administrators don’t like to say it, but we have pro football at some level in college. We no longer have amateurism. We have payment scales, we’ve got NIL, kids are asking for money, they have agents, there’s negotiations. So I do think the fact that we are much more like the NFL than ever before will really help Bill with this transition.

“The other thing is, every coach wants his own players. They used to say it takes you two or three years to get your guys in there. He’s brought in 72 new guys. So you got money, you can evaluate, and bring in who you want. I think he has a chance to win big and win big fast.”

Of the 72 new players on UNC’s roster, 42 are transfers while 30 are part of the 2025 freshman class. That gives Belichick a brand new slate to work with, and his scouting experience from decades in the NFL was likely beneficial in helping him pick the guys that best fit his system.

North Carolina reached double digit wins three times during Brown’s first stint with the program from 1988-97. However, it’s now been a decade since the Tar Heels last won 10 or more games.

With Belichick in town, the hope is that can change sooner rather than later. UNC will kick off this new era against TCU on Sept. 1 in Chapel Hill.