The Bill Belichick experience at the Tar Heels reached an all-time low this week. It’s bad enough that UNC are terrible on the field. Away from it, the drama keeps on following the program. Much of it their own doing. On Tuesday, cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins was suspended by North Carolina over allegations that he provided additional benefits to a player’s family for a game. But there’s more to the story. Did the program lie to the parents about the whole saga?

On Thursday, WRAL’s Pat Welter gave another nugget of information about the episode. When Hawkins was suspended on Tuesday, the team was informed that the coach is absent owing to personal business.

“I’m told that the team was told at a meeting on Tuesday that Hawkins would miss practice for personal business,” he gave the update on X. As reported by The Athletic, Hawkins was suspended for allegedly providing extra benefits to a player’s family by giving them sideline passes for a game. It is a violation of NCAA rules.

A former recruiting analyst and a secondary coach at the University of Washington, Hawkins had worked alongside Bill Belichick’s son, Steve, in 2024. When the Patriots legend came to the Tar Heels, he brough forth a coaching overhaul. Hawkins appeared on the scene at Chapel Hill before the season.

When Bill Belichick appeared at North Carolina, he hit straight to recruiting players. And the latest turmoil could be traced back to that point itself. “It started with recruits coming in acting entitled to certain things,” a source said per the report.

“It’s all starting at the top, and the boys are being affected,” said an anonymous player’s parents. Inside the facility, there is a notice board hung up, which lists the players who have missed workouts.

But as reported, some of Belichick-recruited players’ names are a constant on the list. Despite that, they haven’t faced any change in their play time. As per the report by WRAL, LB Khmori House and CB Thaddeus Dixon, who played for Washington until the last season. Their names have popped up routinely for “preferential treatment” during conversations with the sources. “Dixon’s family has field access on game days, something that no other family is believed to have,” WRAL wrote.

The environment at the program isn’t the merriest, presently. With an ‘F’ grade, another set of troubles has come running towards Belichick. An insider report by WRAL flashed out the scene at Belichick’s locker room. “A complete disaster,” said a source, with the players failing to receive communication from the coaches. The frustration stemmed from the moment the former Patriots head coach entered the program. Belichick’s locker room environment has been called toxic already.

“I don’t fault the players; I fault the leadership that created this toxic environment,” the anonymous parent told WRAL. The person described the environment reeking of an “individualistic mindset.”

Parents are frustrated over the fact that there is no proper communication from the official channels. After Mack Brown departed, some players had not greeted the new HC, with even parents being denied to meet him. It was only after the ‘Practice Like a Pro’ spring drill that they finally got to approach him. “None, zero, zilch. Not one email from a coach, one text, phone call, nothing,” said a parent of a Tar Heel player. The annoyance and exasperation are owing to the fact that when Coach Brown was present, parents had the full liberty to approach him. All that has changed.

Bill Belichick buyout rumours take hold

Bill Belichick’s CFB inning wasn’t predicted to be easy. However, analysts also pointed out the former New England HC will get the house in order. That hasn’t happened at all. Much of the drama is directly because of Belichick.

On Thursday, The Guardian’s Ollie Connolly wrote about Belichick’s buyout being the talk of Chapel Hill.

“Per sources: Bill Belichick has discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy. Belichick has signalled a willingness to trigger his own $1 million buyout if he can find a soft landing with another team or in media,” he wrote on X. However, shortly after the HC released an official statement, saying, “I’m fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building here.”

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham chipped in his support as well: “Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and the University.”

The head coach has signed a five-year, $50 million contract with the program (per USA Today), raking in a whopping $10 million annually. But as per his unusual contract, his compensation is 100% guaranteed during the first three years. But not for the last two years. To simplify, UNC would owe the HC $10 million a year for the first three years, regardless of his firing, unless there’s a cause. But for the remaining two years, 0% of it is guaranteed.