When Bill Belichick was introduced as North Carolina’s head coach in December, athletic director Bubba Cunningham wore a suit with cutoff sleeves to resemble the former Patriots coach’s style. But Cunningham wasn’t all-in on Belichick as his wardrobe would’ve suggested that day, at least during the hiring process.
UNC was initially interested in making Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith its next head coach before a split emerged between key decision-makers on whether to hire Belichick, according to an extensive report from ESPN. In the final weeks of the 2024 season, Cunningham, reportedly with the backing of UNC’s chancellor and board of trustees, had made Smith the program’s target to replace Mack Brown.