Kirk Ferentz reacts to Bill Belichick taking North Carolina job

The news that Bill Belichick would head to the college ranks as the head man at North Carolina took the football world by storm last winter. Now, as Belichick’s first game fast approaches, the reality is setting in.

No one is quite sure how Belichick will fare. Will his style of coaching work in college? Will he be able to manage all the non-football related things that must be taken care of these days in the sport?

Those are all questions that will be answered over the coming months. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was asked recently if he was surprised by Bill Belichick’s decision to coach in college, and his answer was similar to most. That says a lot, because Ferentz was once on staff with Belichick with the Cleveland Browns. He should have a good pulse on things.

“I mean yes and no. Bill’s a football purist,” Ferentz said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. “Coach Belichick’s just a great human being, first of all. Thoroughly enjoyed my three years there. I’ve been really fortunate in my career, I’ve worked for three head coaches, I guess. And two of them are Hall of Famers, and to me the other one could be or should be, Ted Marchibroda. All three were very different but they were just great people to work with and learn from. And I’m appreciative of all three for the opportunities they gave me.”

More than anything, Ferentz seemed happy to credit Bill Belichick with much of his own success as a coach. Clearly the two crossing paths was fortuitous for both.

“Now coach Belichick, granted, like eight guys turned the job down before he got to me on the interview list,” Ferentz recalled. “Nonetheless he gave me an opportunity, I left the University of Maine as the head coach to go there. That took guts on his part. And I’m extremely appreciative for that opportunity. Thoroughly enjoyed working with him.”

Will Bill Belichick succeed in college? Don’t let a lack of experience cloud your judgment, Ferentz said, before once again noting some surprise at the decision itself.

“To answer your question directly, probably didn’t envision because he was a career lifer in the NFL. But he’s also a career football coach and a teacher, and I think that will translate really well to the college level,” Ferentz said. “He’s got Mike Lombardi with him who’s handling a lot of the things that, again, when you’re just thinking about coaching, things you maybe don’t want to have to deal with in a prominent way. So he’s got a great support staff there and my guess is he’ll do a tremendous job.”