Steve Belichick comes to Bill’s aid with August football talk overriding summer controversies
PHOTO: North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick improved Washington’s numbers last year as the Huskies’ DC.
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By TOM SHANAHAN
CHAPEL HILL — It’s too early to know what type of team North Carolina coach Bill Belichick assembles his first season, but off-field summer controversies have been intercepted in August and returned as on-the-practice-field football talk.
And that’s gridiron paydirt.
Bill’s hiring in December was followed by months of self-inflicted wounds with a media focus on Bill’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, and her perceived interference in the program. But Steve Belichick, Bill’s son, has helped shift the conversation to football X’s and O’s instead of girlfriend X’s and O’s.
Maybe North Carolina waited too long to introduce the Tar Heels’ coordinators at midweek, including Steve as defensive coordinator.
Steve, 38, stepped to the podium at the Kenan Football Center at midweek and provided his vision of the upcoming season. He also offered some dry humor, including sarcasm when he was asked about living the celebrity shadow of his father as a six-time Super Bowl championship coach with the New England Patriots.
“I don’t think he’s that cool,” Steve replied with a grin. “That’s you guys’ opinion.”
Steve wore a hoodie – his father’s trademark – and there was a hint of Bill’s NFL monotone in Steve’s voice. But Steve made it clear it wasn’t easy for him to leave the University of Washington, where he was the Huskies’ 2024 defensive coordinator under head coach Jedd Fisch.
“I’m my own person,” Steve said. “I’ve said that before, but I’m doing my own thing. Being with him is important, but it’s not only piece of the decision. I’ve got a family to feed. I’ve got people to provide for. I don’t count on him to do that. I’m a man. It was tough decision to leave those guys (at Washington), but here I am. It’s time to go.”
Steve, who previously coached with his father at New England, improved the Huskies’ defensive ranking from 58th in 2023 while allowing 406.3 yards a game to 28th in 2024 yielding 328.4. The statistics belie Washington’s 6-7 record in 2024 after a 14-1 mark and College Football Playoff runner-up finish in 2023, but Washington won behind an explosive offense under quarterback Michael Pennix, who is now in the NFL with Atlanta.
At North Carolina, Belichick is tasked with improving a defense that ranked 72nd in the nation a year ago, allowing 375.8 yards a game. The low point was a 70-50 loss at home to James Madison. The Dukes from Virginia led 53-21 at halftime.
But something else to note was Steve didn’t sound like a kid following thoughts that were scripted for him. Steve is forever in his father’s shadow, but he emphasized he has tried to learn from coaches beyond his father.
“If you’ve got a good foundation with fundamentals, that’s a good place to start,” Steve said. “You try and push the limits and see how far you can take. We’re not going to drastically change their positions. We see how much they can do and how comfortable they are doing it. If they don’t’ like to do it, we’ll find someone else. If they want to do it, let’s give it a shot and see how it goes. I’m not a cookie-cutter guy. I’m not going to live inside a fence. I want to set the boundaries and see how far we can take it.”
More North Carolina preseason football
— What’s in a name? North Carolina hopes plenty with the other Marcus Allen – Tom Shanahan Report
— Belichick turns a new leaf in the Carolina Pines – Tom Shanahan Report
Steve and his younger brother Brian, who also is on the staff coaching the secondary, entered coaching as ballboys in their youth on their father’s teams. They worked their way up through office duties such breaking down film before eventually coaching on the field.
Father and son both also addressed the family business that began with Bill’s father, also named Steve Belichick. The elder Belichick was a North Carolina assistant, 1953-55, but better known for his long career as a Navy assistant, 1956-89.
The younger Steve, again interjecting dry humor, explained his career path.
“Just being around the game and being around the guys going all the way back to my grandpa,” Steve said. “It’s part of the family. My mom always told me I could do something better with my life, but I fell in love with the game. I appreciate my mom saying that and at this point I understand a little of what she was saying. But my grandpa always said if you love what you do you never have to work a day in your life.”
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Tom Shanahan is an award-winning sportswriter with two books on college football integration, “RAYE OF LIGHT, Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the Integration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans,” and “THE RIGHT THING TO DO, The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s,” and a children’s book, “DUFFY’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.” Shanahan’s 2022 story on the 1962 Rose Bowl, Alabama and segregation was awarded first place for Enterprise from the Football Writers Association of America.
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Click here for my story on the 1962 Rose Bowl and Segregation awarded first place by the Football Writers Association of America. I tell untold stories on Michigan State’s leading role and the true pioneers of college football integration. Click here to read the summary as a first-place story.
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Click here to purchase The Right Thing To Do
THE RIGHT THING TO DO
The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s
Foreword by Ruffin McNeill
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Click here to purchase Raye of Light.
RAYE OF LIGHT
Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the 1ntegration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans
Foreword by Tony Dungy
DUFFY CHILDREN’S BOOK purchase links: Order from Barnes and Noble here and Amazon here.
