Bill Belichick, UNC fire multiple coordinators following losing season

College Sports

Belichick’s Tar Heels finished the season with a 4-8 record (2-6 conference).

Bill Belichick and the University of North Carolina Tar Heels fired two of their coordinators on Friday.

The school announced that the program parted ways with offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer following a 4-8 season (2-6 in the ACC). UNC did not qualify for a bowl game.

“We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes,” Belichick said in a statement. “We wish them both nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”

The lone coordinator to be retained will be defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the elder Belichick’s son.

Belichick’s first season as a collegiate coach in Chapel Hill did not go as he had planned. The Tar Heels had one of the worst offenses in the country with Kitchens at the helm, ranking 129th out of 136 total FBS teams. Starting quarterback Gio Lopez ranked 98th in total QB rating (51.4), per ESPN. His QBR was the 14th-worst among ACC quarterbacks.

Kitchens was UNC’s interim head coach in 2024 after Mack Brown’s firing. He was also the program’s tight ends coach and run game coordinator in 2023. Before arriving in Chapel Hill, Kitchens held several NFL coaching positions, including Browns head coach in 2019.

As for special teams, typically a cornerstone of Belichick-coached teams, this phase of the game was a struggle for UNC. Here is where the Tar Heels ranked in various special teams statistics:

66th in net punting
76th in punt returns
76th in kickoff return defense
81st in punt return defense
102nd in kickoff returns

Priefer had been out of coaching since 2022 before joining Belichick in Chapel Hill. He was previously the Browns’ special teams coordinator from 2019-22.

Belichick was given a “D” rating by USA Today in their first-year college football coaching rankings. The 73-year-old will have to find two new coordinators for the 2026 season after a tumultuous 2025 filled with off-field drama and on-field shortcomings.

Kaley Brown

Sports producer

Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.