What do you do when your new head coach made four times what your previous head coach made? You meet in the middle. Or close to it.
North Carolina is set to pay new head coach Bill Belichick $30 million over a 3-year deal, according to a report from The Athletic.
We don't know how that $30 million will be divvied up annually, but at an average of $10 million a year, Belichick will make twice what North Carolina paid former head coach Mack Brown. Brown made $5 million this past season.
Assuming a $10 million starting point, Belichick would instantly join a group of seven head coaches earning eight figures.
College football 8-figure club, per USA Today
Kirby Smart, Georgia
Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Lincoln Riley, USC
Ryan Day, Ohio State
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Bill Belichick, North Carolina
Belichick could argue he's coaching the Tar Heels at a tremendous discount. Hard figures are not available, but most reporting placed his New England Patriots salary between $20 and $25 million a year.
The $30 million in head coaching salary is just the start, of course. North Carolina has reportedly committed $20 million in NIL funds, and Belichick's staff will dwarf what the Tar Heels previously employed.
The expectation is that NIL at UNC will be upwards of $20 million for Belichick’s program. There will be as many as 30 new staffers as well. Massive commitments from Carolina to the new head coach and his program.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 11, 2024
The Belichick era will be a fascinating one in college football.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Update> The University has now announced Belichick signed a five-year agreement, not the three year the Athletic reported.