Washington defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is expected to join his father’s staff at UNC as the Tar Heels’ defensive coordinator, a source briefed on the move said Sunday. 247 Sports first reported the news.
The younger Belichick, 37, had a major impact with the Huskies in his one season in Seattle. Despite having to replace nine of 11 starters from last year’s defense, Washington ranked No. 27 in yards per play allowed — up from No. 79 last year.
His father, Bill Belichick, North Carolina’s new head coach, spent extensive time around the Huskies program last off-season and during training camp, sitting in meetings and offering suggestions. A source briefed on the matter said the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach was impressed seeing that his defensive scheme would work in college football and could be run by college players, and that time played a key role in his decision to pursue college coaching this winter.
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Steve Belichick isn’t the first Washington Husky to follow his dad to Chapel Hill from Seattle. Khmori House, a standout freshman linebacker, committed to the Tar Heels on Saturday. The 6-foot, 213-pounder, a very athletic former four-star recruit, had 35 tackles and an interception for the Huskies this season.
This season has been the first year Steve Belichick didn’t work for his father in coaching. A former Rutgers long snapper and lacrosse player, Belichick joined his father’s staff in 2012, spending a dozen years with the Patriots and working his way up the ranks. He had served as New England’s defensive play-caller in his last four seasons there, from 2019 to 2023.
The 6-6 Huskies face Louisville on Dec. 31 in the Sun Bowl.
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(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)