The Tar Heels get a big hire.
Bill Belichick hires former SEC coach as new offensive coordinator at UNC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Bill Belichick has turned to a familiar name in college football offense as he reshapes North Carolina’s staff.
Bobby Petrino has agreed to become the next offensive coordinator at North Carolina Tar Heels, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. The hire comes after Belichick fired Freddie Kitchens earlier this month following a single season with the program.
The Tar Heels struggled mightily on offense in 2025, finishing 119th nationally in scoring at 19.3 points per game and 129th in total offense at 288.8 yards per contest. Belichick, entering his first season in Chapel Hill, is tasking Petrino with a complete overhaul of a unit that ranked near the bottom of the FBS.
Petrino does not share direct coaching history with Belichick but brings extensive experience and a reputation for offensive turnarounds. A former head coach at Louisville and Arkansas, Petrino also spent one season as the NFL head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Despite a subpar tenure as Arkansas’ interim head coach, his offenses have remained productive.
In 2025, Arkansas ranked fourth in the SEC in total offense, averaging 454.8 yards and 32.9 points per game, a sharp improvement from the year prior.
Petrino will also be charged with stabilizing a quarterback room in flux. Max Johnson has entered the transfer portal, while Gio Lopez is expected to return after a season in which North Carolina ranked second-to-last in the ACC in passing offense.
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