The coaching landscape in college football experienced a major change on Wednesday as North Carolina revealed that it has appointed Bill Belichick as its new head football coach.

At 72, Belichick has dedicated nearly five decades to the NFL, culminating in a mutual decision to part ways with the New England Patriots after the 2023 season. Although he has never taken the reins of a college football team, he is taking on this challenge to transform UNC into a program that mirrors a professional environment, as he shared on “The Pat McAfee Show” last Monday.

“I believe many college football programs are now structured similarly to professional teams,” Belichick remarked.

His focus will be on enhancing aspects such as nutrition, strength training, and player development within the program.

With those goals in mind, who will manage the recruiting, team composition, and the evolving NIL rules in college football? To assist in these areas, Belichick is inviting a long-time friend and former assistant, Michael Lombardi.

Here’s what you should know about Lombardi and his connection to Belichick.

Who is Michael Lombardi?

Lombardi will serve as the general manager for North Carolina’s football team. His role involves establishing a professional-style personnel department to assess talent from the transfer portal and scout high school talent.

In a Thursday interview with Vegas Stats & Information Network (VSiN), he expressed that he views this new role much like his previous high-level NFL scouting positions.

“The job will essentially remain the same,” Lombardi explained, discussing the differences between his NFL and college roles. “We’re just renaming it, but the essence will be the same, requiring full-time commitment. The notable differences include the absence of a draft and certain deadlines tied to the transfer portal, although we will adapt to those.”

Lombardi began his career in college football, serving as a recruiting coordinator at UNLV for four years from 1981 to 1984, before transitioning to the NFL as a scout for the San Francisco 49ers in 1984. This marked the beginning of a 32-year NFL journey, where he held various scouting positions with teams like the 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, and Patriots.

Most notably, Lombardi was the general manager of the Browns for the 2013 season, but he was replaced by Ray Farmer after just one year. During his tenure, Lombardi led a draft that featured Barkevious Mingo as the sixth overall pick, and the Browns also chose Justin Gilbert and Johnny Manziel during Farmer’s following draft year.

Lombardi last worked in the NFL from 2014 to 2016 as an assistant to Belichick and the Patriots coaching team. He secured two Super Bowl wins with the Patriots, totaling three in his career, the first being with the 49ers.

Is Michael Lombardi connected to Vince Lombardi?

For those curious, Michael Lombardi is not related to Vince Lombardi. However, Vince Lombardi does have a grandson involved in the NFL, named Joe Lombardi, who is the offensive coordinator for the Broncos.