The UNC football program published its complete coaching staff Monday afternoon. The staff is the first under head coach Bill Belichick and will lead the Tar Heels through the spring practice season, which begins Tuesday.

Among Belichick’s top-ranking assistants are offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens (a holdover from former head coach Mack Brown’s staff who served as interim head coach during the 2024 Fenway Bowl) and defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Steve Belichick, Bill Belichick’s son. Another of Belichick’s sons, Brian, will coach defensive backs and safeties for UNC.

A familial connection on the staff is quarterbacks coach Matt Lombardi, son of UNC general manager Michael Lombardi. Natrone Means, another Mack Brown holdover and a former star running back for the Tar Heels, will coach that same position under Belichick.

Another notable name on the staff is Jamie Collins, a former standout linebacker and Super Bowl champion from Belichick’s tenure with the NFL’s New England Patriots. He will coach inside linebackers. Collins played 10 seasons in the NFL, and his position with the Tar Heels will be his first major coaching job.

Mike Priefer, who most recently worked with the Cleveland Browns, will serve as special teams coordinator.

The full staff is listed below, and extended biographies can be seen on UNC’s website here.

Head coach: Bill Belichick

Offensive staff

  • Freddie Kitchens, offensive coordinator/tight ends
  • Will Friend, offensive line
  • Matt Lombardi, quarterbacks
  • Garrick McGee, wide receivers
  • Natrone Means, running backs
  • Caleb Pickrell, offensive assistant

Defensive staff

  • Steve Belichick, defensive coordinator/linebackers
  • Bob Diaco, defensive line
  • Brian Belichick, defensive backs/safeties
  • Armond Hawkins, cornerbacks
  • Jamie Collins, inside linebackers
  • Ty Nichols, outside linebackers

Special teams staff

  • Mike Priefer, special teams coordinator
  • Billy Miller, special teams assistant

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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