Belichick, UNC Dismiss Coordinators Following 4-8 Season

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

Belichick, UNC Dismiss Coordinators Following 4-8 Season

Following a disappointing 4-8 season, North Carolina’s head coach Bill Belichick has made significant changes to his staff. On Friday morning, he announced the termination of offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer.

Coaching Changes at North Carolina

Belichick, who was appointed as head coach a year ago, expressed gratitude for the efforts of both coordinators. He stated, “We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach 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.”

Performance Review

This season highlighted several issues within the Tar Heels’ performance. The offense ranked an alarming 129th nationally in total offense. They also fell to 17th place among ACC teams in total offense, 16th in scoring, and 16th in passing offense. Quarterback Gio Lopez struggled significantly, finishing last among qualified players with an average of just 158.8 passing yards per game.

Special Teams Struggles

The special teams unit underperformed as well, ranking poorly in kickoff returns, punt returns, and kickoffs. Notably, the team allowed Duke to successfully execute a fake field goal, a play that contributed to a 32-25 loss. In their final regular-season game, NC State also converted a fake punt against UNC.

Bright Spots and Future Implications

Despite the overall struggles, place kicker Rece Verhoff stood out, successfully making 19 of 23 field goals, which included a record-setting 57-yard kick. Kitchens and Priefer both had contracts that included provisions for payouts through the end of their agreements. Kitchens, whose contract would have extended until 2026, was to earn $1.2 million in his final year. Priefer’s contract was two years long, with a planned salary of $425,000 in his second year.