Steve Belichick resigns as North Carolina defensive coordinator as school concludes culture investigation

Steve Belichick has resigned as North Carolina's defensive coordinator, the school announced Thursday, the same day it said it had concluded an internal investigation into allegations about the football program's culture and climate. Belichick, 39, is the son of Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick and had been on medical leave since Aug. 6; he will officially leave the program Oct. 27, according to the school. UNC said the investigation found that "certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina's values and standards of conduct," but that those actions were "isolated in scope and not a systemic failure." The school did not specify what it found, and it did not directly connect Steve Belichick or former general manager Michael Lombardi to the investigation, although it mentioned both in Thursday's statement. North Carolina is 2-0 this season and is scheduled to play at Clemson on Saturday.

North Carolina said all necessary corrective actions are underway and will be overseen by Carolina Athletics and the Office of University Counsel, adding that with those actions the university considers the investigation resolved. The school also said the steps announced Thursday would help make Carolina Football a stronger program.

Michael Lombardi resigned as the team's general manager after the investigation. ESPN reported that Lombardi, who was placed on paid administrative leave in late July, resigned earlier this month; ESPN said a source told its reporter Pete Thamel that the leave followed an internal investigation into a human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front office employee, and that the scope widened to include attorneys contacting UNC staffers, coaches, and coaches' wives and girlfriends, with witnesses asked about Lombardi's role in hiring and firing decisions involving female and minority staffers. The New York Post reported Lombardi resigned two weeks ago, while Boston.com reported his resignation came less than a month before Steve Belichick's and that he had been on paid leave.

ESPN reported, citing sources with direct knowledge of the proceedings, that the investigation was wide-ranging and included questions about sex between female staff and players as well as drug use within the program. The New York Post, citing WRAL, reported that lawyers involved in the investigation questioned people about whether Steve Belichick used drugs while at work or gave drugs to at least one player, and separately cited ESPN for the investigation also looking into whether staffers and players had sexual relations. Boston.com did not describe the specific subject matter of the investigation.

Jen Belichick, the wife of Steve Belichick, issued a statement saying the couple is grateful for its time in Chapel Hill and proud of its influence on the program's direction, that their priority will always be to show up with a healthy and strong mind for themselves and their five children, and that there is misinformation and speculation about their situation. She encouraged anyone in need of support to use available resources.

Two UNC football players face charges following a traffic stop Tuesday. According to ESPN and the New York Post, Keeyun Chapman was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and C.J. Sadler was charged with speeding; ESPN reported a police report said it was Sadler's third speeding citation in two months and that about 15 grams of marijuana were found in the vehicle, while the New York Post, citing WRAL, reported Sadler was accused of driving 60 mph in a 35-mph zone. Chapman, a freshman wide receiver, has been suspended indefinitely, according to the school, and both players are listed as out for this week's game at Clemson.

Steve Belichick previously worked on his father's New England Patriots staff from 2012 to 2023 in several defensive roles, according to the New York Post, and spent one season as Washington's defensive coordinator before joining North Carolina last year.

Where sources differ

• Timing of Michael Lombardi's resignation: Boston.com reports it occurred less than a month before Steve Belichick's resignation, the New York Post reports it was two weeks ago, and ESPN reports it was earlier this month.
• Characterisation of why Lombardi resigned: Boston.com links his resignation to the investigation, while ESPN attributes to a source that he resigned after being placed on paid administrative leave in the wake of an investigation into a human resources complaint by a former front office employee.
• Attribution of the drug-related allegations: the New York Post credits WRAL with reporting questions about whether Steve Belichick used drugs at work or supplied drugs to at least one player, while ESPN attributes to its own unnamed sources that the investigation included questions about drug use within the program.
• Headline framing of Steve Belichick's departure: the New York Post describes him as set to resign effective Oct. 27, while ESPN and Boston.com describe him as having resigned, with the school announcement made Thursday.

• None of the sources establishes what specific findings the investigation produced; the school did not specify them.
• No source establishes a direct, on-the-record link made by the school between the investigation's findings and Steve Belichick or Michael Lombardi.
• Steve Belichick's own public statement or explanation is not included in any source; his position appears only through his wife's statement.
• Bill Belichick, the head coach and Steve Belichick's father, is not quoted and has not commented in any of the supplied sources.
• Michael Lombardi is not quoted in any source.
• The reason for Steve Belichick's medical leave, which began Aug. 6, is not established.
• The nature of the corrective actions referenced by the school is not described.
• The drug-related allegations reported by WRAL, as cited by the New York Post, are not confirmed by the university or any other source, and their origin and scope remain unverified.
• No comment from Keeyun Chapman, C.J. Sadler, or their representatives appears in any source.
• No source establishes whether any staff members besides Lombardi and Steve Belichick are subject to discipline or departure.

1. Boston.com — original — by Hayden Bird
2. ESPN — by David Hale
3. New York Post — by Justin Tasch

Read the original at Boston.com

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