North Carolina’s 2026 season is going to hinge on more than talent. After a first year under Bill Belichick that fell well short of the mark - four wins, no bowl game for the first time since 2018, and an offense that struggled badly with chemistry - the Tar Heels need real coaching impact to get back on track.
That’s why a few assistants matter so much. Belichick has put together a staff with the chance to push UNC toward a bowl game in 2026, and four coaches stand out as especially important to that effort.
The defense’s biggest question is at linebacker, where North Carolina has to replace Khmori House and Andrew Simpson. Syracuse transfer Derek McDonald and Richmond transfer Peyton Seelmann are the names brought in to fill those spots, but that still leaves Belichick and linebacker coach Robert “Bubba” Collins with a tough job heading into the season.
Collins, a former standout linebacker with the New England Patriots during Bill Belichick’s historic run there, gives UNC a coach with a strong background at the position. Steve Belichick also has a major role to play in tightening up a defense that was described as a solid “bend, don't break” group last fall, but one that needs more discipline.
On offense, the quarterback battle is the biggest decision on the roster. Billy Edwards Jr., Miles O'Neill and true freshman Travis Burgess are all in the mix to win the job, and that makes quarterbacks coach Matt Lombardi a central figure in the race. Lombardi has coached quarterbacks in the NFL and college football, most recently working with the Oregon Ducks and Dillon Gabriel, and he is expected to be the coach helping determine who starts Week 0 in Dublin.
Up front, North Carolina is also leaning on a familiar name in Bill Friend. One of the most recognizable offensive line coaches in the country, Friend is entering his second season with the Tar Heels and faces a key task: fixing the penalties and lack of discipline that hurt the line last fall. His SEC background at Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Auburn gives him plenty of experience against top-level talent.
Friend also has new pieces to work with, including Shaq McRoy and Andrew Threatt as possible starters on the right side. He’ll still have Aidan Banfield and Christo Kelly in the mix, too. With UNC expected to lean on the run game, Friend’s work could go a long way toward determining how much the offense improves in 2026.
In Other News...
RJ Davis Just Got Another Chance UNC Fans Need To See
RJ Davis first pro season gave him a strong foothold in the G League, where he turned in a productive rookie year for South Bay and picked up All-NBA G League Rookie Team honors along the way. The former North Carolina guard also earned a spot in the NBA G League Next Up Game, a sign that his game translated quickly after college and that he made enough of an impression to keep himself in the conversation.
Now he is getting another Summer League run, and this one comes with a little more intrigue than expected. The Spurs announced their roster with Davis on it, a move that caught some attention because many had assumed he would stay in the Lakers organization, and it gives UNC fans another chance to track how his game keeps evolving against NBA-level competition. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs Offensive Reset Hinges On One Identity Shift Fans Need To See
North Carolinas offensive overhaul has been building since the Tar Heels went looking for answers after last seasons struggles, and the biggest change may be the one most tied to identity. Bobby Petrino is in as offensive coordinator, the roster has been reinforced through the transfer portal at key spots, and the expectation is that the offense will be far more grounded in the run game than it has been in recent memory.
That shift points directly to a backfield that could define how far the reset goes, with Demon June, Benjamin Hall and transfer Kaleb Jackson positioned to share the load. If the Tar Heels are going to get the kind of improvement they want in 2026, it likely starts with those backs and a scheme built to lean on them, but the real question is how quickly all the new pieces can turn that plan into something opponents have to respect. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tar Heel Garrison Brooks Lands His Next Overseas Opportunity
Former North Carolina big man Garrison Brooks is set for another stop overseas, continuing a pro career that has taken him well beyond Chapel Hill. After his college days with the Tar Heels, Brooks has spent time in the NBA G League and in Lithuania, building a path that has kept him active across multiple levels of the game.
Japan will now remain part of that journey, with Brooks moving into his second season competing there after a run with the Chiba Jets. For a player who has already shown a willingness to adapt from one league to the next, the next chapter keeps him in a familiar region and gives him another chance to settle in with a new club. [Read more 🡒]