Bill Belichick called reports that he is seeking a way out of his contract with North Carolina “categorically false” during his Monday media availability.
Days after both Belichick and Tar Heels’ athletic director Bubba Cunningham released statements about the head coach’s commitment to the football program and the support behind him, questions remain about his future in Chapel Hill. Despite that, Belichick tried to make it clear he’s there to stay.
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“Some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that is just categorically false,” Belichick said. “There is zero truth to any of that.”
Last Monday, WRAL in Raleigh published a story outlining frustrations from many in and around the program from Belichick’s first season. A day later, cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins was reportedly suspended for giving a player’s family sideline passes to a game — a violation of NCAA rules — after the allegations were reported in the WRAL story.
The same reporter who wrote Monday’s story tweeted Wednesday that there had been a fight in the locker room on Tuesday. He also noted in a separate social media post that people had become reluctant to talk in the wake of the story as Belichick’s staff was trying to find “the leak.”
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Belichick pushed back against the reports Monday.
“Some things that were reported are factually and totally inaccurate,” Belichick said. “Our guys work hard. They have a great attitude, great energy and we’ve shown a lot improvement. We’ve made a lot of improvement and I think that’s all exciting to see. I don’t know what kind of perspective some of those people have that are saying that, but I think anybody that’s around it on a daily basis would see that. I’m sure the players see the improvement they’re making as does this coaching staff.”
While the Tar Heels have gotten off to a 2-3 start, Belichick stressed patience in his first season in charge of the program.
“It’s a learning curve, we’re all in it together, but we’re making a lot of progress,” Belichick said Monday. “The process will eventually produce the results that we want it to produce like they have everywhere else I’ve been, so I’m very confident in that. Players are working hard and they’re getting better, and we’re going to continue to do that and improve.”
UNC has dropped their past two games by a combined score of 82-19 and will next face Cal on Friday night followed by a home date with Virginia on Oct. 25.
