After UNC abruptly gave their winningest HC ever, Mack Brown, the boot, most expected the program to pivot. Pivot into perhaps a young, up-and-coming coordinator somewhere. Or even attempt to lure a successful head coach elsewhere to jump ship. Somebody who’s versed with the changing dynamics of the college game in the NIL and transfer portal era. Someone who they can entrust with knowing exactly how to go about building a successful program at this level. Well, they ended up with Bill Belichick. A great figurehead in his own right, but one that’s very contrasting with what was needed as per the prevalent wisdom. This has divided everyone into 2 opposing factions.

Specimen 1 is those who think he’ll fail at this level. They’re not deluded into thinking he’s a bad coach or “washed.” It’s just skepticism of how his NFL methods and experience will translate with kids. As well as on the recruiting front, at a school more known for its history on the hardwood than the gridiron. Specimen 2, those who think his acumen of the game will indeed translate to CFB. After all, he’s Bill Belichick. A savant who’s on the Mount Rushmore of coaches. One member of CFB media, perhaps the most prominent voice of the sport, falls into the former faction. He echoed concerns when the hire was announced that still resonate. So much so that Belichick is still being confronted over them.

Josh Pate took to his namesake YouTube channel to echo concern about Bill Belichick at UNC, who’s slated to rake in $50 million during the length of his contract. In particular, how he’s setting people up for disappointment with claims about “revolutionizing” the college game. “At a 2nd-tier institution—football-wise—in the 3rd or 4th best conference in America right now, what is it that’s revolutionary or groundbreaking that he’s going to bring to the table?” he asked. Josh Pate proceeded to elaborately detail his cynicism around Belichick.

“If you think understanding how to build the organization to mirror the Sunday game is revolutionary, dude, they got people inside the building in North Carolina who have already been doing that,” he said. Belichick has tagged along his former New England assistant, Michael Lombardi, as the GM for the Tar Heels. 

A general manager is a norm in the NFL, but not in CFB. “Are you bringing some revolutionary offense in? Are you bringing some revolutionary defense in? Do you have a relatability or connectivity with high school prospective student-athletes that your peers in the conference don’t have?” resounded Pate. “I’m open to being sold on that, by the way. I just don’t necessarily think that’s Bill Belichick’s forte.” Well, Belichick’s smug demeanor, when along this very line of questioning, suggests he’s not concerned in the slightest.

It’s a red-letter date in the college basketball calendar whenever the UNC-Duke rivalry is played out. With the latest iteration in Chapel Hill due to be played this weekend, Bill Belichick guested on College GameDay. Among a series of questions about his transition from the NFL to CFB, the crux of them all was how challenging it is to descend a rung on the ladder. After all, Belichick is used to structure. To streamlined hierarchies from the top down. Whereas CFB is still the wild, wild west. However, Belichick exuded quiet confidence in his answers. Which, at least verbally, dispels Josh Pate’s question marks.

Bill Belichick appears unbothered by making the transition between the pros and college

Bill Belichick was asked about the personnel onboarding process and how he and UNC have gone about things. “It has been great support from the school. We’re recruiting a lot of good players,” he said. “It’s a head coach-GM model. We obviously work together and formulate our plan. Mike Lombardi handles really the GM side of it. The contracts, salaries, and so forth. It’s what we’ve been doing for 30-something years, so we’re used to it.” The last bit was particularly intriguing. Not only because it sheds light on just how vastly experienced Belichick is, making skepticism of his transition a little unremarkable. It even segued into his next answer and aforementioned smug confidence.

Belichick was questioned about the differences he’s seen so far between the pro and collegiate games. He, quite literally, shrugged it off as a non-question almost. As if there are none. While implying there’s next to no chance of him struggling to have a seamless transition. “It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time. Just the kids are a little bit younger now!” he said. “It’s basically the same process. Free agency happens after one year instead of four, and there are a few modifications. But it’s very similar.” This serves as a soft warning to the ACC’s 18 members. The Tar Heels have brought in the GOAT not to take part but to take over. That said, the backdrop for this being the UNC-Duke game is quite poetic.

At this current juncture, it’s a fair assumption that UNC will perhaps always remain synonymous with its basketball program. It casts a Michael Jordan-shaped cloud over the football program. Bill Belichick—assuming he sticks around for long enough—can get things rolling, though. This won’t be a short-term fix. As much as Belichick tries to quell concerns, Josh Pate’s views are founded in some fair rationale. It remains to be seen what comes of this. The refurbished Tar Heels are easily one of the most fascinating storylines of the 2025 CFB season.