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ESPN: UNC and Belichick's Talks Still in Progress

2024-12-09

Pete Thamel, an ESPN College Football Senior Writer and Insider for College Gameday, along with Chris Low, an ESPN Senior Writer and College football reporter who joined ESPN.com in 2007 and graduated from the University of Tennessee, have been closely following the developments. Dec 9, 2024, at 09:39 AM ET, talks between North Carolina and Bill Belichick for the school’s open head-coaching job are still ongoing. Sources have informed ESPN that these talks have continued, with an expected resolution either way this week. Bill Belichick, 73, is expected to make multiple public appearances this week, which may bring some clarity to the level of his interest. The NCAA transfer portal opens on Monday, leaving North Carolina’s roster potentially in a state of flux. It is known that Belichick has met with UNC officials at least once, last week in New York, and the dialogue has persisted.

Tulane Coach Jon Sumrall's Decision

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall is no longer linked to the North Carolina job. Sources told ESPN late Sunday that Sumrall has informed Tulane officials that he will stay at the school and not pursue any of the open power conference jobs. He and Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith were the two names most prominently linked to the job initially, but Smith is no longer engaged. Iowa State’s Matt Campbell is not expected to be a candidate.

UNC's Talks with Other Coaches

UNC has also spoken to Army’s Jeff Monken about the opening, a source told ESPN’s Chris Low. It is uncertain how deep UNC’s talks with Belichick are, other than that they have gone on for an extended period. The UNC search has been scattered, with an uncertainty in the industry about who is running it. Board of trustees chair John P. Preyer has been a key Belichick advocate throughout the process and has rallied a group at the school behind his potential hire. Some people with ties to Belichick are skeptical he would take the job as he has never worked in college football. Others believe he has been sincere and thorough in his interest and has a desire to return to the sideline.

Issues Surrounding Belichick's Courtship

There are several issues that loom over any potential Belichick hire. These include the potential role of his son Stephen Belichick, UNC’s NIL resources, Belichick’s salary, and resources for the staff. There are signs around the industry that Belichick is still involved in the job. Representatives from UNC’s collective have hypothetically discussed players’ potential interest if Belichick took the job, stressing that nothing has been done but these discussions have taken place. Third parties have also been calling potential staff members for a college job in case a deal is reached. Belichick’s exploration has included a detailed look at nearly every aspect of college coaching and how it would operate.