North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick has resigned, with the university saying Thursday that his departure becomes effective Oct. 27 as it wraps up an independent investigation into the football program’s culture and climate.
Belichick, 39, has been on medical leave since early August and will stay on leave until the resignation date. UNC did not say whether he left voluntarily or whether the move was tied directly to the investigation, pointing to its policy on personnel matters.
The school said the inquiry found that "certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina's values and standards of conduct," while also stressing that those actions were isolated and did not amount to a broader breakdown inside the program. UNC added that it now views the investigation as closed, though it will look at any credible new information that comes up.
WRAL reported that the investigation involved Belichick and former general manager Michael Lombardi. The station also previously reported that outside lawyers asked people about alleged drug-related conduct involving Belichick and his interactions with players. UNC did not name anyone or spell out the findings in its statement.
Lombardi resigned Sept. 3 after more than a month on paid administrative leave. His attorney, Tom Mars, said earlier that Lombardi had cooperated fully with the investigation.
Bill Belichick first announced his son’s medical leave on Aug. 6, saying only: "Steve is on medical leave," Belichick said at the time. "Look forward to getting him back as soon as possible."
Steve Belichick was entering his second season as North Carolina’s defensive coordinator after joining his father in Chapel Hill in 2025. Before that, he spent one season coordinating Washington’s defense after more than 10 years on the New England Patriots’ staff.
During his absence, UNC did not name an interim defensive coordinator. Instead, the staff split up the work, and Brian Belichick, UNC’s secondary coach, handled the defensive playcalling in his brother’s place. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Brian Belichick is expected to keep that job on a permanent basis.
Bill Belichick said in August that the defense would continue operating as a group. "We coach the defense collectively as a staff," Bill Belichick said in August.
"We'll continue to do that. Those coaches are involved with everybody."
That setup has gotten off to a strong start. North Carolina is 2-0 and ranks No. 21 nationally in defensive yards allowed per play, even though the team returned only 32% of its defensive snaps and three starters from last season.
In Other News...
Ohio State May Need More Khary Wilder Than Anyone Expected
Khary Wilder arrived at Ohio State with the kind of high school rsum that naturally creates a little buzz, and early this season he has started to justify it. The freshman defensive lineman has already shown he can move around the front, handle multiple spots and make his presence felt even in limited snaps, which is exactly the sort of flexibility the Buckeyes tend to value when the games start to tighten up.
Wilders early impact has also created a familiar kind of coaching dilemma: how much more can a young player give you before his role has to grow? Ohio State has plenty of bodies up front, but Wilders versatility and activity have made it hard to ignore him, and as the season goes on the question may not be whether he is ready for more playing time, but how soon the Buckeyes are willing to give it to him. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces One Immediate Test After That Texas Collapse
The Texas loss left Ohio State with an immediate chance to reset, and the matchup with Kent State offers a very different kind of test. After watching a 20-point fourth-quarter lead slip away, the Buckeyes are not just trying to win, they are trying to show cleaner habits, steadier footing and a better finish before the schedule tightens again.
There is also a roster ripple to watch on both sides of the ball. Bo Jackson is being projected to have a fast start on the ground, while Khary Wilder could be in line for more work after showing enough in limited snaps to keep his name in the rotation. The real question is how far the staff chooses to push the regulars in a game that should be controlled, but may still carry a little extra weight after what happened in Austin. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Big Ten Slate Sets Up A Brutal Test For Jake Diebler
The Big Tens 2026-27 basketball schedule has landed, and it gives Jake Dieblers Ohio State team a clear early look at what the grind will be like in conference play. The Buckeyes will get a 20-game league slate with an even split of 10 home and 10 away games, plus home-and-away meetings with Michigan, Penn State and Iowa that should help define the shape of the season.
The road starts quickly, with Big Ten play opening at Nebraska on Dec. 2, then stretches through a winter that will demand balance and consistency from a roster trying to climb in the league. Ohio State closes the regular season at home against Michigan on March 7, which gives the Buckeyes a fittingly big finish, even if the larger question is how they handle the tough middle months before that showdown arrives. [Read more 🡒]