Bill Belichick has made a surprising switch to college football as the head coach of North Carolina. What prompted this change?

The renowned coach, who has won six Super Bowls, was officially unveiled as the new Tar Heels’ head coach on Thursday, marking the beginning of the Belichick era in Chapel Hill. This move sent shockwaves throughout college football and the NFL alike. Typically, coaches transition from college to the NFL, but it’s rare for a celebrated NFL coach like Belichick to shift back to college, especially when it seemed he was poised to land another professional coaching role.

So, what led the architect of one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties, who is just 14 wins shy of Don Shula’s all-time coaching record, to leave the professional ranks for the ACC? This was the first chance Belichick had to explain his decision on Thursday.

Bill Belichick Shares His Reasons for Joining North Carolina

Belichick revealed that coaching college football has always been a dream of his, particularly because his father, Steve Belichick, was a college coach for over four decades, including a position at North Carolina. He expressed that being at UNC represents a “full circle moment” for him and that he is eager to mold college football players.

“This is essentially a dream realized,” he stated. “As a child, college football was all I ever knew.”

His historical ties to North Carolina and the values that the university upholds were significant factors in his decision to coach the Tar Heels.

“There has always been a connection to this institution,” he remarked. “Plus, everything it represents—both on and off the field—makes it a remarkable destination for countless student-athletes with abundant opportunities.”

Many have questioned why Belichick, at the age of 72, chose to continue coaching rather than retire from the sidelines. He humorously noted that the job “is better than working.” He expressed his passion for coaching and shared how his father advised him that if you enjoy what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like work. Additionally, he clarified that he has no intentions of using the North Carolina position as a stepping stone back to the NFL.

“I didn’t come here with plans to leave,” Belichick affirmed.

After taking a year off from coaching, Belichick mentioned that the time off allowed him to follow college football more closely than he could have while leading the Patriots, granting him a richer understanding of the game.