A key figure on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees who was part of the bid to bring Bill Belichick to the school is now leaving.
WRAL News has learned that John Preyer, a member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees, has stepped down from the board. Preyer informed the board of his decision on Friday in an email.
“I’ve never felt better about the direction of teh University and its leadership, and am lucky to have played a small role in helping making it the no. 1 university in the world,” Preyer wrote in the email, a copy of which was obtained by WRAL News.
Preyer was the chairman of the board and an integral member of UNC’s search committee for the Tar Heels’ next football coach after the December 2024 firing of Mack Brown.
WRAL interviewed Preyer for its latest documentary — “Coaching Carolina: The Belichick Way” — which explores Belichick’s hiring and first year in Chapel Hill, from the unprecedented interest in UNC’s program to the tumultuous season on the field.
It was Preyer who connected with Belichick confidant Michael Lombardi — after a series of telephone calls to political leaders — and with Belichick, who won six Super Bowl titles as head coach of the New England Patriots after winning two as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.
Belichick got off to a rocky start in his first season as the Tar Heels’ head coach, finishing with a 4-8 record that eventually saw dwindling attendance from fans as the season progressed.
UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts staunchly supported Belichick throughout the 2025 season. Preyer, too, said UNC accomplished many of its goals in hiring Belichick and remained confident that on-field success would follow.
“I find it hard to believe that a great teacher of football is not going to succeed at the college level,” Preyer told WRAL reporter Cristin Severance in the WRAL documentary. “If I’m wrong, I mean, what the hell? If I’m wrong, screw you all. I mean, I tried.”
Related: ‘It’s our hire’: Inside North Carolina’s hiring of football coach Bill Belichick
Trustee Marty Kotis provided a statement to WRAL News on Wednesday about Preyer.
“John Preyer’s service on the Board of Trustees coincided with a period of meaningful reform at UNC,” Kotis wrote. “He was instrumental in confronting a $100 million structural deficit and in advancing initiatives such as SCiLL that will shape the university’s future.
“John led with integrity, took on difficult issues directly, and trusted others to execute real change. UNC is stronger because of his leadership.”
Trustee Jim Blaine spoke about Preyer’s accomplishments at a July 31 meeting of the board, Preyer’s last as chair.
“I also don’t think that we would have hired our new football coach without your efforts, and I want to applaud you for your vision and your pushing us to think outside the box and pursue excellence on the gridiron,” Blaine said. “We all hope that pays off.”
Who is John Preyer?
Preyer is the co-founder of Restoration Systems, a Raleigh-based environmental mitigation company founded in 1998. He previously worked as legislative director for U.S. Sen. Lauch Faircloth. He also worked on the 1996 presidential campaign of Steve Forbes.
Preyer graduated from UNC in 1990. He served on the university’s Institute for the Environment Board of Visitors and the university’s Board of Visitors (2012-16). He joined the Board of Trustees in 2019.
His term was set to expire in 2027.
