North Carolina’s new head coach **Bill Belichick** faced immediate criticism after the Tar Heels fell 48-14 to TCU in his college coaching debut. The loss validated concerns many had raised about his transition from the NFL.
The Horned Frogs dominated what ESPN and Chapel Hill had promoted as a marquee matchup for weeks.
**Colin Cowherd** from FS1 targeted Belichick’s coaching staff as a major problem before the game even started.
“It’s like a friends and family coaching staff. There’s three Belichicks. Mike Lombardi and his son. And then there’s Belichick’s girlfriend. Then there’s Jamie Collins, who’s never been a coach but he played with Belichick,” Cowherd said.
“I saw that with Bill Belichick at the end of New England. He didn’t hire the best coaches available. He hired the guys he was most comfortable with. Young Bill Belichick would have fired this Bill Belichick.”
Coaching Staff Under Scrutiny
Belichick’s staff does include several family members and former players. **Steve Belichick** serves as defensive coordinator. **Brian Belichick** coaches defensive backs.
**Michael Lombardi** works as general manager, with his son **Matt Lombardi** handling quarterbacks.
**Jamie Collins**, who played six seasons under Belichick in New England, now coaches inside linebackers. It’s his first coaching position at any level.
**Freddie Kitchens** remains as offensive coordinator after staying from **Mack Brown’s** previous staff. Cowherd compared this setup to Belichick’s 2022 Patriots offense, when he made defensive coach **Matt Patricia** and special teams coach **Joe Judge** co-offensive coordinators.
“You have to take offense seriously. Freddie Kitchens is the OC, he’s already on staff. So why put in any effort into going out and getting the best OC on the market?” Cowherd said.
Performance Issues Beyond Brady
The statistics support the criticism. Belichick-coached teams without **Tom Brady** have averaged just **19.8 points per game** across his time with Cleveland, New England and now North Carolina.
UNC managed only **14 points** against TCU.
The Tar Heels produced just **222 yards of total offense** and **10 first downs**. They converted **1-of-13 third downs** and averaged **1.8 yards per carry** rushing.
North Carolina turned the ball over three times.
The defensive performance was equally problematic, allowing TCU to score at will throughout the game. Belichick’s debut showed struggles on both sides of the ball that raised questions about his staff’s preparation and the team’s overall readiness.
