North Carolina is moving on without Michael Lombardi.
The Tar Heels general manager is resigning after an internal investigation, ending a run that made him the highest-paid GM in college football at $1.5 million per year. Lombardi had been on paid leave while the school looked into a human resources complaint filed by a former staff member.
That leaves UNC without a general manager for the 2026 season, a notable shakeup for a program that had leaned on Lombardi in support of head coach Bill Belichick.
Lombardi’s attorney, Tom Mars, had previously pushed back hard on the investigation. “If UNC had grounds to fire Michael for cause, they wouldn’t need to conduct such a far-ranging, lengthy witch hunt.
They would have done so by now,” Lombardi's lawyer Tom Mars previously told The Athletic. “I think the motive behind the investigation goes further than a $1.5 million buyout.
After all, UNC could fire Michael (or the athletic director or any head coach) for no reason at all just by paying their buyout. In today’s world, $1.5 million is just a drop in the bucket, so there must be other reasons behind this multimillion-dollar investigation.”
The off-field turmoil arrived during a rough debut season for Lombardi and Belichick in Chapel Hill. North Carolina finished 4-8 in 2025 and dropped its final three games.
Even with that backdrop, the Tar Heels opened the 2026 season by beating TCU 15-10, a result that gave Belichick’s team a much-needed lift.
Now UNC turns the page and tries to build on that start when it faces East Tennessee State on Saturday, September 12th.
In Other News...
UNC Just Sent A Clear Message About Michael Malones First Team
The Tar Heels are making a major early statement about how serious they are under Michael Malone. North Carolina has pushed its roster budget for the 2026-27 season to more than $20 million, a sharp jump from roughly $14 million last season, and the increase underscores how aggressively the program is leaning into roster building in Malones first year on the job.
Malone has been active in recruiting and in working with boosters to help support that effort, and his contract already includes $6.75 million in revenue sharing for NIL. The rest of the money, according to the report, has come through booster contributions, a sign that UNC is not just adjusting to the new era of college basketball but trying to get ahead of it. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Backfield Pecking Order Already Looks More Unsettled Than Fans Expected
UNCs backfield already looks like a committee, and the latest game only sharpened the picture. Benjamin Hall handled the bulk of the carries, while Demon June barely saw the field until the fourth quarter, a usage pattern that stood out even with the Tar Heels leaning into rotation. Jaylen McGill also carved out meaningful snaps and finished with a touchdown, adding another layer to a room that appears to be sorting itself out on the fly.
For a position group that entered the season with plenty of intrigue, the distribution of work is the part worth watching now. The coaches have shown a willingness to spread touches around in past games, and this one offered another clue that no single back has fully separated from the pack. Until that changes, UNCs running game may keep looking less like a depth chart and more like a weekly guessing game. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs New Starting Five Comes With One Early Concern
North Carolinas offseason overhaul has given Hubert Davis a roster that looks and feels very different, with 11 new players and a handful of new voices on the staff, including Michael Malone and Chuck Martin. The early projection still leaves room for optimism around the core pieces, with Avdalas, Brown, Able and Stevenson expected to help define a more versatile backcourt while the new coaches work to sharpen the groups efficiency and overall fit.
The biggest question, though, sits in the middle, where the Tar Heels need clarity after Cameron Fens ineligibility leaves the starting center spot unsettled. North Carolina wants that position to anchor a defense-first identity, but the answer there will shape how the rest of the lineup settles in and whether the new look can translate from paper to the floor once the season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]