Bill Belichick Fires Coaches After Horrific First Season with UNC

Bill Belichick is cleaning house following a disastrous debut campaign with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels football team. On Friday, UNC fired two coaches—Freddie Kitchens is out after just one year as the offensive coordinator, and Mike Priefer has left the post of special teams coordinator.

The writing was on the wall. UNC boasted one of the worst attacks in college football. Among 136 FBS teams, the Tar Heels ranked 131 in total offense, No. 121 in scoring offense (19.3), and No. 119 in red zone offense (77.1% scoring rate).

Belichick’s team scored just 25 touchdowns in 12 games, finishing with a 4-8 record. As a result, they missed out on bowl qualification for the first time since 2018.

The veteran coach’s attempt to run a pro-style offense clearly was too much for the college players, regardless of their NIL valuation. Only wide receiver Jordan Shipp capped off a decent season with 60 receptions for 671 yards (11.2 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns.

Belichick handed the quarterback duty to Gio Lopez, who impressed with 25 touchdowns at South Alabama before joining UNC. Lopez’s numbers took a nosedive. He completed 170 passes from 261 attempts (65.1%), for 1747 yards, and threw 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He also rushed for 133 yards and scored 3 touchdowns.

Naturally, changes had to be made, and this led to the firing of OC Freddie Kitchens. ESPN’s college football expert, Pete Thamel, broke the news with a tweet. STC Mike Priefer also followed Kitchens out of UNC.

UNC has fired STC Mike Priefer, per ESPN sources. And sources also confirm the firing of OC Freddie Kitchens.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 12, 2025

Under Priefer’s tutelage, the UNC special team was a mess. The tape doesn’t lie. North Carolina fans witnessed a field goal transform into a Duke touchdown after one of the players conceded a penalty. Then a fake field goal from the Blue Devils bamboozled North Carolina, leading to a walk-in touchdown.

Even the punt and kick returns suffered greatly. UNC ranked 12th in the ACC as a punt return team, 14th as a kick return team, and 11th in punting. 

We want to thank Coach [Freddie] Kitchens and Coach [Mike] Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes. We wish them both nothing but the best in their future endeavors.

Belichick said in a statement (HT/the New York Post)

What’s next for Bill Belichick at UNC?

Belichick’s job is secured for the time being. UNC signed the former New England Patriots head coach to a 5 year deal, which will end in December 2029. According to reports, Belichick is earning $10 million AAV and incentives if he fulfills certain criteria.

However, his girlfriend could sour the relationship between him and the governing body of UNC. Jordon Hudson, 24, has reportedly taken a drastic step amid her ongoing dispute with journalist Pablo Torre.

Torre exposed several previously unknown facts about former college cheerleader Hudson. In one of his exposés, Torre revealed Hudson’s rude encounter with CBS Morning Show staff. He also dove deep into deciphering a video related to Belichick and Hudson.

Editor-in-Chief of FOIAball, David Convucchi, revealed that Hudson has filed a request seeking every email sent to or from Senior Associate Athletic Director Robbi Pickeral Evans related to CBS, “60 Minutes,” or longtime producer Draggan Mihailovich between Dec. 1, 2024, and April 29, 2025.

Is your head coach’s girlfriend filing FOIA requests on your school’s top comms official a good look?

David Convucchi tweeted

Is your head coach's girlfriend filing FOIA requests on your school's top comms official a good look? Asking for a friend pic.twitter.com/4CggT8zRUz

— David Covucci (@DavidCovucci) December 3, 2025

In a recent segment of ‘The Contrarian,’ Torre dismissed ever receiving any legal notice from Belichick’s girlfriend.

I can report that there has been no legal notice or letter, or communique of any kind, sent to me. I have not been sued by Jordon Hudson despite her threatening to do so on Instagram last week, which is a fun sentence that I never get tired of saying out loud.

Torre said (HT/The Contrarian)

Both Belichick and Hudson have stayed silent on the matter. However, Belichick should focus on football and build the UNC program from the ground up.

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