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Six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick issued an official statement following news that he's agreed to become the next head football coach at the University of North Carolina on Wednesday (December 11).
"I am excited for the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill. I grew up around college football with my Dad and treasured those times. I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill," Belichick said.
Inside Carolina's Adam Smith initially reported that North Carolina was finalizing a deal with Belichick as its next head coach on Wednesday.
"In a stunning development that has progressed from implausible to an actuality, North Carolina is finalizing a contract to land Bill Belichick as its next football coach, Inside Carolina learned from multiple sources on Wednesday," Smith wrote.
Belichick, 72, said he's had a "couple of good conversations and we'll see how it goes" when asked about the meetings before comparing college football to the NFL during his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show Monday (December 9).
"It seems like college football is more like pro football.” Says he’s talked to plenty of coaches to discuss value, the portal, and the new college world," Belichick said.
On Thursday, InsideCarolina.com's Grant Hughes reported that Belichick interviewed for the North Carolina vacancy and was "among a group of candidates the Tar Heels have spoken with since firing Mack Brown on Nov. 26, a list that Inside Carolina reports includes Tulane head coach Jon Sumerall and Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, among others."
Belichick, who interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons' vacancy earlier this year after 24 seasons with the New England Patriots, is the third-winningest coach in NFL history and one of seven NFL head coaches to have spent more than 20 years with one franchise following George Halas (40) of the Chicago Bears, Curly Lambeau (29) of the Green Bay Packers, Tom Landry (29) of the Dallas Cowboys, Don Shula (26) of the Miami Dolphins, Steven Owen (24) of the New York Giants and Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers, all of whom have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.