Frustration is starting to boil over inside Bill Belichick’s first college football experiment at North Carolina.
Five games into his debut season, the six-time Super Bowl champion has turned what was once billed as the “33rd NFL team” into one of the least productive teams in the country. The rough start now has parents of Tar Heels players to speak out.
North Carolina ranks 128th nationally in points per game after Saturday’s 38-10 home loss to Clemson. The results left even the most loyal fans leaving Kenan Stadium before halftime. One parent explains how the problems start at the top.
“It’s an unstructured mess,” the parent said, speaking to WRAL News under the condition of anonymity. “There’s no culture, no organization. It’s a complete disaster. I don’t fault the players; I fault the leadership that created this toxic environment.”
Belichick’s leadership is being openly questioned in Chapel Hill. Multiple parents and team sources describe a divided locker room with poor communication and an overreliance on a pro-style structure ill-suited for the college game.
MORE: UNC fans are convinced Mack Brown subtly roasted Bill Belichick over Drake Maye controversy
The disconnect began early. After Belichick was hired last December to replace Mack Brown, he immediately brought in longtime NFL confidant Michael Lombardi as general manager and installed both of his sons, Steve and Brian, as defensive coaches.
Within months, UNC overhauled its roster, adding 70 new players through the transfer portal and recruiting class.
“It started with recruits coming in acting entitled,” another source told WRAL. “It was about them individually, not the team.”
"It's an unstructured mess, there's no culture, no organization. It's a complete disaster."
— Pat Welter WRAL (@PatrickWelter) October 6, 2025
I've talked to parents, players, coaches, Board of Trustees, and the athletic department to try and paint a picture of why Bill Belichick has been a bust. #UNChttps://t.co/6CTN8dK5mX
MORE: Is Steve Belichick UNC's coach-in-waiting?
That divide deepened when Belichick’s recruits allegedly received special treatment, including better parking, more game tickets and in some cases, leniency for missed workouts and classes.
Parents say Belichick and his staff have been inaccessible since their arrival. This is a complete switch from Brown’s open-door policy.
“There’s been no communication with coaches and parents,” another parent said. “None, zero, zilch. Not one email, one text, one phone call.”
Several parents have described Lombardi as “rude” and “nasty,” while players say Steve Belichick rarely interacts with the defense. Questions about experience and nepotism surround the staff, which includes multiple assistants with minimal college backgrounds.
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Despite Belichick’s reputation for discipline, UNC has shown little composure. The Tar Heels have been outscored 120-33 by Power Four opponents. Belichick has also reportedly banned New England Patriots scouts from visiting campus, which was a decision that baffled families who believed he’d prepare players for the NFL.
At 73, Belichick’s challenge is rebuilding a program in the new era of college football. But this report paints a different approach built in personal relationships. Even Belichick recognizes a problem with what's going on.
“It’s a lack of concentration,” Belichick said after the Clemson loss. “And part of that is coaching, too, so I’ll take my share of the responsibility.”
As one player’s parent put it, “He sold this as an NFL program. But right now, it doesn’t even look like a college team.”
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