If it's not Bill Belichick, who will be UNC football coach? Here are 4 possible candidates

If it’s not Bill Belichick, who will be UNC football coach? Here are 4 possible candidates

Posted by author December 9, 2024 Football

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What seemed like a fantasy has suddenly become a possibility for North Carolina football.

As UNC continues its search for a football coach, Bill Belichick remains the name getting the most attention since the Tar Heels played their final game under former coach Mack Brown.

First reported by InsideCarolina, the 72-year-old Belichick has been interviewed by UNC to become the Tar Heels’ next head coach. During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Belichick revealed he spoke with UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts and had a “couple of good conversations, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Before signing off after a 15-minute conversation with McAfee and former NFL linebacker AJ Hawk, Belichick said “we’ll see” what happens with the open position moving forward.

It’s been nearly two weeks since UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham dismissed the 73-year-old Brown, who was UNC’s leader for six seasons in his second stint with the program.

But if Belichick ultimately isn’t the person to replace Brown, who could UNC hire to be its next head coach? Tulane’s Jon Sumrall is reportedly getting an extension and Iowa State’s Matt Campbell seems content in Ames.

Here’s a look at four more coaching candidates to lead the Tar Heels.

Steve Wilks, former NFL coach

Like Belichick, Wilks is an NFL guy who built his reputation as a defensive coach. The 55-year-old Charlotte native was a volunteer coach for the Charlotte 49ers this season. A longtime NFL assistant and the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers during their Super Bowl LVII appearance, Wilks was a head coach for the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals and has long been known as a strong leader. A defensive back at Appalachian State, Wilks spent time at the college level with 10 programs. He has nearly 30 years of coaching experience.

Glenn Schumann, Georgia defensive coordinator

Schumann, 34, just helped the Bulldogs win the SEC Championship and clinch the No. 2 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The assistant coach, who has been under head coaches Nick Saban and Kirby Smart, is considered one of the rising stars in coaching circles. But is he interested in leaving Athens for Chapel Hill?

Jeff Monken, Army coach

Monken, 57, has established himself as one of the top coaches in the nation. With a winning culture built around discipline and buy-in, Monken just helped a top-25 Army team win the American Athletic Championship. The Black Knights play Navy on Saturday for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Is UNC willing to wait it out?

Freddie Kitchens, UNC interim coach

Kitchens, 50, is currently the interim coach for the Tar Heels, who play UConn in the Fenway Bowl on Dec. 28. The former Cleveland Browns head coach has spent the last two seasons as a run game coordinator and tight ends coach with the Tar Heels. Kitchens has 16 years of NFL experience, but will the Tar Heels want someone from outside the current program to lead the UNC in 2025?

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.