CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — One of the winningest coaches in NFL history has just entered the college game.
[ READ MORE: Bill Belichick has officially been named next UNC head football coach ]
Bill Belichick was introduced Thursday as UNC Chapel Hill’s next head football coach.
The eight-time Super Bowl champion answered many of the looming questions surrounding his hire, between his desire to continue coaching at 72 years old, or concerns he would leave the program to return to the NFL.
“I didn’t come here to leave,” he said.
Among those in attendance, former Tar Heel and Carolina Panthers legend Julius Peppers sat front row during the announcement. Belichick said he also spoke with prominent alumni Lawrence Taylor and Michael Jordan, who shared their support.
During the news conference, university leadership presented him with a North Carolina hoodie, complete with his trademark short sleeves. Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham then swapped out his suit jacket with a cropped-sleeved replacement to match the look.
As he outlined his vision Thursday, Bill Belichick described his plan to bring an NFL structure to the university. That includes a strong presence of coaches and trainers with NFL experience and newly hired general manager, Michael Lombardi.
During his NFL career, Belichick said he rarely had the opportunity to watch college football outside of the spring season leading up to the NFL Draft — but added college football “came to him,” after more than a dozen college coaches approached him seeking his advice on NFL-related changes.
Watch fans’ reactions to the announcement in the video below:
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“Let’s call it things like the salary cap, headsets, two-minute warnings, all rules changes in the college game that were the same or similar to the NFL,” he said.
When asked to define success in the role, Belichick didn’t offer a win total, but instead told the room he would do his best at North Carolina.