As one of football’s most iconic figures, Bill Belichick’s reach extends far beyond the NFL sidelines. Now at the helm of the North Carolina Tar Heels football program, Belichick is bringing an NFL approach to the college game.
From the way he recruits, to the way he structures the team, to the actual staff, Belichick is trying to make his Tar Heels look more like a professional organization. According to reports, Belichick is adding another former NFL coach to Chapel Hill.
Belichick Bringing NFL-Expertise to North Carolina, Hiring Mike Priefer
According to ESPN insider Pete Thamel, the Tar Heels are close to finalizing an agreement with longtime NFL special teams coach Mike Priefer, who is expected to join as UNC’s special teams coordinator.
Priefer has been coaching for over 20 years in the NFL, with previous roles as a special teams coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, and Cleveland Browns. Priefer hasn’t coached in college football since the 2000 season with the Northern Illinois Huskies.
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Priefer graduated fromthe U.S. Naval Academy and before starting as a graduate assistant with Navy in the mid-1990s. Priefer’s combination of NFL expertise and service academy background matches Belichick’s vision for the Tar Heels, who will debut their revamped program on Aug. 30, against the TCU Horned Frogs.
At the same time, rumors of Belichick returning to the NFL continue. However, Michael Lombardi, North Carolina’s general manager, has firmly dismissed such speculation. Lombardi emphasized that Belichick wants to building a lasting legacy in Chapel Hill.
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