Multiple sources with knowledge of the inner workings of Bill Belichick’s program say that UNC football’s losses are a product of a divided locker room, a disorganized coaching staff and a failure to communicate.
Bill Belichick pitched his UNC football program as the “33rd NFL team.” But through five games into his college coaching debut, the Tar Heels rank 128th in scoring among 136 FBS teams — near the bottom nationally. The numbers tell a bleak story, capped by a 38–10 defeat to Clemson on Saturday, another low point in a season that began with high hopes. Just weeks ago, Kenan Stadium was buzzing with optimism; by halftime against Clemson, fans were filing out in frustration.
How did a six-time Super Bowl champion, once considered the greatest NFL coach of all time, fall into this state? According to WRAL, conversations with player parents, staff members, athletic department insiders, and UNC trustees point to a fractured locker room, a disorganized coaching staff, and poor communication as the core issues behind the Tar Heels’ collapse.
“It’s an unstructured mess,” one source told WRAL. “There’s no culture, no organization — it’s a complete disaster.”
UNC dismissed Mack Brown on Nov. 26, 2024, following a 41–21 loss to Boston College. Brown finished 6–6 in his final season but had at least six wins every year during his second stint, highlighted by a 9–5 campaign and a Coastal Division title in 2022. However, his struggles against NC State and unexpected losses to underdogs like James Madison ultimately led to his firing.
Belichick was hired on Dec. 11, 2024, after a search led by Chancellor Lee Roberts and then–Board of Trustees Chair John Preyer. But insiders say the locker room divide began almost immediately.
“It starts at the top, and the players are feeling it,” said one parent, who spoke anonymously to avoid backlash. “The leadership created a toxic environment — it’s every man for himself, and these young guys are feeding into it.”
For Belichick, who had never coached at the college level, adapting to the modern NCAA landscape — with its transfer portal chaos and evolving NIL rules — has proven difficult. At his introductory press conference, he expressed confidence that his NFL background would translate to college success.
“I think there are a lot of parallels,” Belichick said on Dec. 12, 2024. “That’s why we’ve structured things with Michael [Lombardi] as general manager and myself as coach, collaborating as we did in the pros. There are definitely similarities.”
Belichick’s first major move as UNC’s head coach was hiring Michael Lombardi as general manager. Lombardi’s college football experience is limited to his role as recruiting coordinator at UNLV from 1981 to 1984. He later transitioned to the NFL, beginning as a scout for the San Francisco 49ers before working alongside Belichick with both the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.
When the transfer portal opened on Dec. 9, 2024, Belichick and Lombardi overhauled the roster, bringing in 70 new players through transfers and their first recruiting class. Sources say that’s when tensions began to rise — a natural divide forming between players recruited under Mack Brown and the incoming transfers.
Preferential treatment and locker room friction
According to insiders, some of Belichick’s recruits entered the program with an entitled attitude. “It started with recruits coming in expecting special treatment,” one source said. “It was all about them — not the team.”
While it’s common for transfers to receive larger NIL deals than returning players, multiple sources say the coaching staff’s lack of team-building efforts has only deepened the rift. Reports of favoritism toward transfers — from better perks to lenient discipline — have fueled resentment within the locker room.
Several sources claim that certain transfers, particularly Khmori House and Thaddeus Dixon, who both played under Steve Belichick at Washington, have received exclusive privileges. These include priority parking for themselves and their families, extra game tickets, and, in Dixon’s case, field access for relatives — a benefit no other family reportedly has.
Inside the team facility, a board tracks players who miss workouts or classes. According to sources, several of Belichick’s recruits appear on that list regularly, yet their playing time remains unaffected.
Breakdown in communication
The communication gap between the new staff and players — as well as their families — has only worsened the situation. Sources say that players who remained at UNC following Mack Brown’s departure didn’t meet Belichick for weeks after his hiring, and parents were instructed not to approach him. The first formal interaction between families and the new staff didn’t occur until the “Practice Like a Pro” spring game.
“There’s been zero communication between coaches and parents,” said one parent of a current player. “No emails, no calls, nothing.”
Under Mack Brown, parents often had direct relationships with the coaching staff, with open lines of communication if an issue arose. In contrast, multiple sources describe inconsistent dynamics under the new regime: Brian Belichick, the defensive backs coach, is seen as approachable and personable, while Steve Belichick, the defensive coordinator, is viewed as distant and difficult to connect with.
“He hasn’t spoken with most of the defensive players,” one source said. “They don’t even have his phone number.”
Concerns about the experience — and perceived nepotism — within Bill Belichick’s coaching staff have been widely discussed in the media, and those same issues are now being raised internally by players and their parents.
“The coaches’ lack of experience is unbelievable,” another source said.
Steve Belichick served as Washington’s defensive coordinator for one season before joining UNC. He began his coaching career in 2012 as a defensive assistant under his father with the New England Patriots, later working as a position coach and serving as the team’s defensive play-caller from 2020 to 2023.
Brian Belichick spent nine years with the Patriots, starting as a scouting assistant in 2016 before becoming the safeties coach from 2020 to 2023.
Matt Lombardi, son of general manager Michael Lombardi, is UNC’s quarterbacks coach. He spent the 2024 season as an offensive analyst at Oregon and previously held assistant coaching positions with the Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins, according to the university’s website.
Among the staff, the least experienced are outside linebackers coach Ty Nichols and cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins. Nichols previously served as an analyst and graduate assistant at Arizona, while Hawkins began his career as USC’s director of high school relations before taking on recruiting and defensive analyst roles at Colorado, Arizona, and Washington.
While Belichick’s one-on-one coaching has earned praise from several sources, his overall program management has drawn criticism from both parents and players.
“Bill shuts people out. He doesn’t say much,” one source said.
Multiple sources also described general manager Michael Lombardi as “rude” and “nasty,” adding, “Nobody likes him.”
During UNC’s bye week before the Clemson game, Lombardi sent a letter to donors framing the current season as a rebuild.
“Our success in New England came from long-term investment, continuity, and player development,” Lombardi wrote. “That’s the model we plan to follow — blending veteran leadership with a strong high school recruiting class to balance short- and long-term goals.”
Still, quarterback management has been a major struggle for Lombardi in his first year. Belichick and Lombardi retained Max Johnson, who broke his leg in 2024, and freshman four-star recruit Bryce Baker from Kernersville, N.C. They also brought in Purdue transfer Ryan Browne, who sources say was dismissed after spring practice. Lombardi allegedly attempted to revoke Browne’s NIL deal, prompting the quarterback to hire an attorney and reach a settlement.
Following Browne’s departure, former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez transferred to UNC and was named the starter. Sources say Lopez is earning $2 million in NIL compensation this season. Through four games, he recorded 430 passing yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions before suffering an injury against UCF. Johnson started the following game versus Clemson but, according to sources, is not receiving any NIL money.
One of Belichick’s main selling points upon his hiring was preparing players for the NFL. Parents and players have praised his football knowledge and the program’s improved strength and conditioning regimen. However, frustration has grown over his decision to ban New England Patriots scouts from UNC facilities — a move Belichick confirmed came in retaliation for being barred from the Patriots’ facility.
“It’s clear I’m not welcome there,” Belichick said after the Charlotte game. “So, they’re not welcome here.”
After parting ways with Patriots owner Robert Kraft in January 2024, Belichick reportedly interviewed for several NFL head coaching positions but received no offers. UNC’s on-field struggles and internal dysfunction have since offered a glimpse into why.
“The problem is, this isn’t the NFL,” one source explained. “You can’t run a college program the same way.”
Small issues have also added to the sense of division. For example, players not on the travel roster are not permitted to dress for home games — an approach uncommon in college football. Former UNC quarterback Bryn Renner, who played for the Tar Heels from 2009 to 2013, noted that while such practices are typical in the NFL for practice-squad players, they’re rare at the college level.
“In college sports, game days are special,” Renner said. “Some of these kids will only wear a Carolina uniform once, and being part of that moment matters. I’ve never seen a team do it this way, and I think it hurts morale.”
Sources say another sign of the team’s lack of unity is that some players have been selling their unused tickets for cash instead of sharing them with teammates and families — a long-standing tradition within the UNC program.
Calls for patience
A member of the UNC football staff told WRAL they disagreed with the notion that the locker room was divided or that the coaching staff was in disarray.
Former UNC quarterback Bryn Renner said players also need to take accountability for their performance on the field.
“There are a lot of guys still figuring out who’s going to lead,” Renner told WRAL. “When you bring in 70 new players from different places, it takes time to build chemistry. It’s hard to hold someone accountable when you don’t really know them.”
“At some point, the players have to go out and make plays,” Renner added. “The coaches can’t do that for them.”
Before the Clemson loss, UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts urged patience during a Board of Trustees meeting.
“This isn’t something we can judge after four games or even one season,” Roberts said. “We last won the conference championship in 1980. There’s still a lot of work and investment needed to get this program where we want it.”
Board of Trustees chair Malcolm Turner, former athletic director at Vanderbilt, echoed that sentiment.
“A basic level of patience is necessary for future success,” Turner said. “I understand the desire for instant results, but real success takes time.”
Even after the 38–10 defeat to Clemson, the sentiment within the athletic department remains unchanged. Administrators understand that hiring Belichick was a long-term investment, and though they’re eager to support him and his staff, they acknowledge that Belichick’s inexperience in the college game presents challenges. His contract includes a $20 million buyout if terminated after this season.
At 73, time has never been on Belichick’s side. Following the Clemson loss, the Tar Heels have now been outscored 120–33 against Power Four opponents.
“It’s a lack of focus,” Belichick admitted. “That’s on coaching too, so I’ll take my share of the responsibility.”
When asked after the Clemson game what message he had for fans and donors disappointed by the team’s results, Belichick responded:
“We’re going to keep working and grinding. We’re going to get things moving in the right direction.”
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