Bill Belichick is already looking to quit on the University of North Carolina just five games into his tenure, according to a new blockbuster report.
The legendary New England Patriots head coach has suffered a humiliating start to life in college football, slumping to a 2-3 record which was most recently compounded by a miserable 38-10 defeat to Clemson at the weekend.
And amid claims that he has already lost the locker room, the 73-year-old is looking to jump ship, The Guardian’s Ollie Connolly reports.
Belichick is said to have discussed his exit plans with the Tar Heels chiefs and is even willing to trigger is own $1million buyout, should he find a better alternative with another team or a return to the media.
To add insult to injury, members of Belichick’s coaching staff are also already preparing to flee with some even reaching out to programs that are expected to make it to the CFB playoffs about potential roles, the report adds.
Some staffers have reportedly predicted that the expected overhaul could come in the next two weeks with one saying that the ‘rats are leaving the ship.’
Bill Belichick ‘s college football experience has been nothing short of a disaster
They also alleged that Belichick’s communication with his own coaches has become ‘weird’ and ‘distant’ over the past two weeks. The head coach was even said to be unreachable by some members of staff during UNC’s recent bye week, which Belichick spent with his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, who has become an ever-present fixture on the sidelines of the Tar Heels’ games.
The explosive report comes amid claims of recruiting violations committed by the football team with it being alleged that Belichick-recruited players are receiving preferential treatment.
The violations, some of which have reportedly been proven, while others remain under investigation, could be used to reduce Belichick’s buyout. Yet, the coach is expected to accept a ‘greatly reduced’ figure, should he find a soft landing spot, the report adds.
Earlier on Wednesday, reports emerged claiming that as well as losing the faith of the fans – many of whom left Saturday’s game against the Tigers at halftime – Belichick has also lost the locker room.
According to WRAL News , insiders claim the Tar Heels’ struggles can be put down to ‘a divided locker room, a disorganized coaching staff and a failure to communicate.’
Meanwhile, a parent of a current UNC star told the outlet: ‘ It’s all starting at the top, and the boys are being affected.
‘I don’t fault the players; I fault the leadership that created this toxic environment. There’s an individualistic mindset. The boys are young, and they are feeding into it’.
Insiders told the outlet that a large reason for the divide stems from the team’s recruitment and, in particular, the preferential treatment that some stars get.
The outlet claim that some Belichick-recruited transfers are receiving ‘preferential parking’ and ‘more tickets for games’ compared to other teammates.
On Tuesday night, reports claimed that UNC had sacked cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins over allegations that Belichick’s program awarded benefits to players.
The report claimed that among the alleged benefits were sideline passes given to a player’s family members – which violates NCAA rules.
Beyond the split in the locker room, sources have also suggested that a failure to communicate with players and parents has also lead to the divide.
Under previous head coach Mack Brown, parents of UNC players had a strong relationship with the coaching staff and had access to their phone numbers.
However, under Belichick, things are very different.
One source said: ‘There’s been no communication with coaches and parents, period. None, zero, zilch. Not one email from a coach, one text, phone call, nothing’.
Given Belichick’s tight-lipped nature, fans were thrilled to get an insight into his locker room speeches and pre-game talks in the Hulu docuseries which had been planned.
However, reports claimed over the weekend that the documentary has been scrapped in just the latest humiliation for former Patriots boss Belichick.
To add to the circus in Chapel Hill, Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend Hudson has sparked controversy with her permanent presence by his side.
She has drawn ire from fans for her overbearing presence after she was spotted giving Belichick a pep talk during one of her sideline patrols last month.
