09/17/26 02:06:00
Printable Page
09/17 14:04 CDT UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigns, probe into
conduct in football program concludes
UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigns, probe into conduct in
football program concludes
By AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) --- North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve
Belichick, the son of head coach Bill Belichick, has resigned from his position
as the school concludes a probe into its football program.
The school released a statement Thursday morning saying Steve Belichick's
resignation would be effective in late October at the conclusion of a medical
leave, which was announced early in preseason camp. That made him the second
high-profile resignation amid the probe, the other being general manager
Michael Lombardi earlier this month.
UNC's statement comes after the school's investigation "determined that certain
actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina's values and standards of
conduct," according to the statement. The school didn't reveal specifics of
those actions found by the review, nor had it discussed details of the
investigation launched in late July.
"The investigation also found that these actions were isolated in scope and not
a systemic failure," the school said.
In a Thursday interview with The Associated Press, The Assembly and WRAL of
Raleigh, lead investigator and attorney Nate Huff along with UNC general
counsel Paul Newton wouldn't discuss detailed findings or conduct by specific
individuals. But Huff confirmed his team probed allegations tied to potential
drug use, inappropriate relationships and NCAA rule violations within the
program while conducting roughly 60 interviews.
"At no point did I feel like the university counsel's office or university
leadership or athletics leadership was limiting or steering me," Huff said. "I
felt they were the people to whom I would go to to get the access I needed to
get to the bottom of all this. And that was my experience.
"So my team and I were able to immerse ourselves in Carolina football and its
compliance and its culture, and in these allegations."
The list of interviewees included Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowl titles
with the New England Patriots before making his NFL-to-college transition in
December 2024. The probe ran throughout preseason camp, then continued as the
Tar Heels beat TCU and East Tennessee State to start Belichick's second season.
"He made his whole staff and himself available to me during football season,"
Huff said. "And these coaches that I talked to, people that I talked to in that
building, the only thing they were asking me was, ?When do you need me?' and
?Where do you need me to be?'
"So I was able to investigate football in the middle of football season fully.
And I had access to people, even people like coach Bill Belichick."
In Bill Belichick's first news conference after Lombardi's Sept. 3 resignation,
he faced questions that largely dealt nothing with football. Belichick said he
believes his program "totally" has an atmosphere of following rules, saying:
"Obviously everybody's responsible, including me, for doing things properly.
And we intend to do that."
That same day, UNC vice chancellor for communications Dean Stoyer --- who
released Thursday's statement --- said the school "continues to support Bill
Belichick and the Carolina football program."
The school announced its probe in late July in the days after putting Lombardi
on paid administrative leave. The same day Lombardi resigned, WRAL of Raleigh
cited anonymous sources in reporting the type of questions asked of some
interviewees, with some focusing on Steve Belichick.
Additionally, Lombardi attorney Tom Mars told The Athletic that the school's
probe now included questions into potential "inappropriate" relationships that
didn't involve his client. Mars didn't return a call or email from the AP
regarding that comment at the time.
The school on Thursday declined to comment on individuals in the probe, citing
university policy on personnel matters. UNC said that "all necessary corrective
actions are now underway" and that it considers the investigation to be
"resolved."
___
Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full
college football coverage here
|
