Bill Belichick isn’t going anywhere, yet.
The beleaguered North Carolina coach opened his press conference on Monday by responding to reports that he had begun to look for ways to leave the program amid a disastrous to his Tar Heel tenure.
“Reports about my looking for a buyout or trying to leave here is categorically false,” Belichick said. “There’s zero truth to any of that. I’m glad I’m here. We’re working toward our goals. We believe very much in the process. We need to just keep working and grinding away and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
A bye week in Chapel Hill turned ugly over a stream of reports over a program in chaos with the 73-year-old Belichick at the center of the issues.
Belichick said he is “100 percent” confident that the process is working, but admitted there has been a “learning curve” in his first year as a college coach after nearly five decades working in the NFL.
That included winning six Super Bowls as the Patriots coach and two more as a defensive coordinator for the Giants under Bills Parcells.
Bill Belichick is in his first season as North Carolina coach. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
“We’re all in it together,” Belichick said. “But we’re making a lot of progress, and the process will eventually produce the results we want like they have everywhere else I’ve been.”
Aside from the results on the field — a 2-3 start with the three losses by a combined 87 points — Belichick has drawn extra attention to the program thanks to his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, who is a consistent gameday presence on the North Carolina sidelines.
Jordon Hudson has frequently appeared on North Carolina sidelines this season. AP“Everybody’s most interested in the final score, and I’m at the top of that list,” Belichick said. “But it’s a process. You build a culture, you build a program, and eventually the results will come. When will that happen? Hopefully as soon as possible. We’re working hard to get there.”
During the slew of negative stories last week, Belichick released a brief statement reaffirming his commitment to the program.
He said he did so because some of the reports — which included details of a locker room fractured between holdover players and new Belichick additions — were “factually inaccurate.”
North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson throws a pass against Clemson. Getty ImagesA separate report by 247Sports.com said that “potential exit strategy discussions” took place at North Carolina.
