Days after North Carolina placed the highest-paid general manager in college football, Michael Lombardi, on paid administrative leave, UNC head coach Bill Belichick largely avoided the topic in a news conference before the Tar Heels’ first practice of preseason camp.
Asked how UNC is dealing with Lombardi’s absence, Belichick said: “We are working through some things. We’re at a particular time of year now where there are certain things that are in play and certain things that aren’t in play. … We’re taking it day by day. And, you know, working through the things that are on the table now.”
Earlier Thursday, the university said in a statement: “As a result of concerns behind allegations that led to the personnel action regarding Michael Lombardi announced on July 27, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, through its Office of University Counsel, is in the process of investigating this matter. Because this involves confidential personnel issues, the University will not comment on the nature of the allegations or discuss personnel information.”
Athletic director Steve Newmark confirmed that the counsel is leading an investigation into Lombardi after Belichick’s news conference.
“It’s paramount for us to do what’s right to make sure it’s a full and fair review, and that we don’t do anything to compromise the integrity of the process,” said Newmark. ” … We’re hopeful that it will be an expedited process, because essentially what is important to us is trying to make sure we’re doing what’s right for the university and the athletic department and our student-athletes, is to ensure that once we get the results of the process, we take them into consideration and then we act quickly on whatever action may be appropriate based on those findings.
“At this point, there’s only been two official actions.”
Lombardi’s leave is connected to a human resources complaint, three people briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to comment publicly, told The Athletic earlier this week. According to North Carolina’s handbook, administrative leave “should not exceed 30 days,” meaning a decision on Lombardi’s future should come before the Tar Heels’ Aug. 29 season opener against TCU in Dublin.
Additionally, the College Sports Commission — the year-old enforcement body tasked with looking into potential violations of name, image and likeness and revenue-sharing rules, and approving third-party deals with athletes — has approached UNC’s football program about a possible investigation, with Lombardi’s actions believed to be of interest, according to two sources briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly.
Asked directly about the CSC inquiry, Belichick said, “Yeah, next question. We can’t talk about it.”
All told, the situation is another black eye for Belichick’s program — and especially for the Hall of Famer’s right-hand man, Lombardi, who earns $1.5 million annually and was Belichick’s first hire after accepting the North Carolina job.
While most of Lombardi’s roster construction duties for the coming season are already complete, for a program that went 4-8 in Belichick’s first season and desperately needs to rebound in 2026, losing such a prominent staffer so close to the start of the season can still have an impact.
Thursday, Belichick touted the progress the program has made over the last year.
“Yeah, well, I mean, we’re ahead of where we were last year,” he said. “Again, just the fact that nearly everybody was here, through the spring, through the summer, we’re not starting from scratch. We have better evaluation of players, and they are further ahead.”
Lombardi, a longtime confidant of Belichick and onetime NFL general manager with the Cleveland Browns, generated headlines in Chapel Hill long before Monday’s news. In his first public appearance as the team’s general manager, he proclaimed UNC the NFL’s 33rd team, a comment many in college football saw as overconfident. By mid-October, amid UNC’s dismal start — including three double-digit losses to power-conference opponents — multiple sources told The Athletic that Lombardi’s arrogance and roster management were key reasons for the team’s struggles, despite having a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach.
