North Carolina anticipated to rent Bobby Petrino as new OC underneath Invoice Belichick

North Carolina coach Invoice Belichick is anticipated to carry Bobby Petrino to the Tar Heels as his new offensive coordinator, CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz studies. Petrino dealt with play-calling duties at Arkansas the previous two seasons underneath Sam Pittman and assumed interim coach standing close to midseason when Pittman was fired.

Petrino and Chip Kelly have been reported as finalists for Belichick, with Belichick finally going with the choice with newer success on the school degree as he enters his second season main the Tar Heels. 

Belichick fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens earlier this month as a part of sweeping adjustments made to his teaching employees after the Tar Heels’ disappointing 4-8 end. Kitchens was one of many solely on-field assistants that Belichick retained upon his arrival in Chapel Hill, however North Carolina’s offense struggled this fall, ending on the backside of the ACC in a number of statistical classes.

Petrino, 64, brings a tempo-driven unfold system to the Tar Heels with a penchant for explosive performs and improvement of quarterbacks. A earlier head coach at Arkansas, Petrino returned to the Razorbacks forward of the 2024 season to rework the offense after spending the 2023 marketing campaign at Texas A&M underneath Jimbo Fisher.

Petrino, who went 0-7 because the Arkansas interim this season, holds a profession report of 137–78 as a head coach, however will focus strictly on the offensive facet of the soccer underneath Belichick.

Petrino served as coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 earlier than leaving for the Arkansas emptiness. His profitable tenure there ended after an 11-win season in 2011 following his notorious bike accident. He resurfaced as coach at Western Kentucky and Louisville and later had a three-year stint main the Missouri State program earlier than returning to Arkansas as offensive coordinator.

Belichick, 73, is on a five-year, $50 million cope with the Tar Heels and has a $1 million buyout underneath an NFL clause in his contract if he is pursued by a professional franchise. His first season at North Carolina did not go as deliberate after a number of switch portal additions did not reside as much as the hype in a brand new setting. 

Former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez completed with 1,747 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions over 12 begins, whereas the Tar Heels’ dashing assault supplied little help.

The Tar Heels entered the ultimate three weeks of the season with an opportunity to get to bowl eligibility at 4-5 total, however misplaced in-state rivalry video games to Wake Forest, Duke and NC State, sparking teaching employees adjustments.