Steve Belichick, North Carolina football defensive coordinator and son of Bill, on medical leave
North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is going on medical leave, Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick told reporters Wednesday.
The 39-year-old son of the head coach came to North Carolina last season from Washington, where he was also DC. Before that, he worked for his father with the New England Patriots for about a decade.
Bill Belichick provided no details on Steve Belichick’s condition or a timetable for his return. Steve Belichick was scheduled to meet with reporters last week when North Carolina began preseason practice, but that session was canceled after athletic department officials said the coach wasn’t feeling well.
North Carolina’s defensive staff also includes Steve’s younger brother, Brian, at defensive backs coach, and former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco at defensive line coach. The Tar Heels’ defense performed well after some early struggles last season and ranked 25th in the country in yards per play allowed (4.94).
North Carolina’s second season under Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with the Patriots, has already been off to a rocky start. Days before practice started, the university placed general manager and longtime Belichick confidant Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave. School officials declined to give specifics, but did reveal the university is conducting an investigation related to Lombardi, who makes $1.5 million as college football’s highest-paid GM.
Three people briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly previously told The Athletic that Lombardi’s leave was connected to a human resources complaint.
Lombardi retained attorney Tom Mars, who said in a statement the longtime NFL executive “welcomes the opportunity to clear his name.”
“He is fully cooperating with UNC and expects the investigation will be swift, thorough, and fair,” Mars said. “Michael would ask that people have the decency to let the process run its course before jumping to any conclusions about the nature of the investigation or whether there’s any merit to whatever has been alleged.”
In addition to the HR complaint, the College Sports Commission also contacted UNC football about a potential investigation, two people briefed on the matter but not authorized to discuss it publicly told The Athletic, with Lombardi’s actions believed to be of interest. The CSC serves as the enforcement arm for potential name, image, and likeness violations and is also responsible for approving third-party deals for athletes.
Lombardi declined to comment when initially contacted by The Athletic.
North Carolina went 4-8 in its first season under Belichick and begins this season on Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
