UNC Football: Belichick Fires Assistants Freddie Kitchens, Mike Priefer

UNC football head coach Bill Belichick has begun shaking up his coaching staff, as he announced the firings of both offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer Friday morning.

“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 2025 season was the third in Chapel Hill for Kitchens, who was one of the only holdovers kept on staff after former head coach Mack Brown’s dismissal at the end of the 2024 season. Kitchens served as tight ends coach and run game coordinator under Brown, then took over as interim head coach for UNC’s Fenway Bowl game against UConn last December. The Tar Heels lost that game, 27-14.

Belichick retained Kitchens after joining the Tar Heels and promoted him to offensive coordinator. But UNC’s offense struggled mightily in 2025, ranking last in the ACC in total yardage and next-to-last in scoring. The Tar Heels were one of just two ACC teams to average fewer than 200 yards passing per game (Virginia Tech was the other). UNC also never scored more than 27 points in a game against an FBS opponent.

Priefer joined UNC during the offseason after a long stint in the NFL, one which saw him work for six different franchises across two decades. In Carolina’s three-game losing streak to end the season, the special teams units committed several high-profile gaffes: two blocked field goals against Wake Forest, another missed kick against Duke and a critical fake field goal by the Blue Devils which set up the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Across the entire season, UNC ranked 14th in the ACC in kickoff return average and 12th in punt return average, without a touchdown in either department. In 2024, the Tar Heels had been the only ACC team with two kickoff return touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns.

The departures of Kitchens and Priefer come as several players have also announced their intentions to leave UNC via the transfer portal. The portal will not open until Jan. 2. For a full list of which players are leaving, click here.

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

‹

Chansky's Notebook: A Full Cycle

Bill Belichick and Michael Lombardi's "first" national signing day class at UNC comes with some good news and some bad news.

4-Star Wide Receiver Alex Taylor Commits to UNC Football

Mack Brown secured another big win on the recruiting trail Saturday, as four-star wide receiver Alex Taylor from Greensboro’s Grimsley High School announced his commitment to the Tar Heels. Taylor chose Carolina over several other finalists, including NC State, Clemson, Penn State and Virginia Tech. Inside Carolina and 247 Sports grade Taylor as the No. […]

UNC Football Earns Pair of 4-Star Commitments in Class of 2024

It was a big 24 hours for head coach Mack Brown and the UNC football program. The Tar Heels received commitments from two in-state, four-star recruits in the class of 2024: receiver Jordan Shipp from Providence Day School in Charlotte and safety Malcolm Ziglar from nearby Fuquay-Varina High School. Shipp announced his decision on Sunday […]

Four-Star Edge Rusher Rico Walker Commits to UNC Football

An in-state talent will suit up for the Tar Heels in 2023. Edge rusher Rico Walker, rated as a four-star prospect by 247 Sports, committed to Mack Brown and Carolina Monday afternoon. Walker chose the Tar Heels over Maryland, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida. BREAKING: #UNC Football just landed a commitment from four-star edge rusher Rico […]

College Football's Transfer Portal Opened Jan. 2. Which Tar Heels Have Entered?

The college football transfer portal opened Friday, Jan. 2 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16. It will be the only transfer portal window of the year for college football, as the NCAA moved to eliminate the spring transfer window earlier this year. Players do not have to have committed to and signed […]

Top Stories of 2025: Bill Belichick's Debut Season with UNC Football Backfires

With the hiring of Bill Belichick as head coach, UNC assured itself of one thing: there would be more eyes on the Tar Heels than ever before.

Report: UNC QB Bryce Baker Plans to Enter Transfer Portal

According to numerous sources, UNC true freshman quarterback Bryce Baker is planning to enter the transfer portal once it opens Jan. 2. Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports first reported the news. BREAKING: North Carolina true freshman QB Bryce Baker is entering the @TransferPortal, @On3Sports has learned He was ranked as a Top 65 Recruit (No. […]

Report: UNC Football Hiring Bobby Petrino as Offensive Coordinator

According to reports from Inside Carolina and On3 Sports, UNC is hiring Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino as its next offensive coordinator. Petrino will replace Freddie Kitchens, who was fired after his lone season calling plays in 2025. The UNC offense fizzled more than it popped under Kitchens’ leadership. The Tar Heels were one of just two […]

Chansky's Notebook: Coaching Cuts

Bill Belichick has fired two of his assistant coaches, but it's unclear where UNC will go for its upcoming hires.

UNC Football: Belichick Fires Assistants Freddie Kitchens, Mike Priefer

UNC football head coach Bill Belichick has begun shaking up his coaching staff, as he announced the firings of both offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer Friday morning. “We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes,” Belichick said in […]

›