CHAPEL HILL — UNC football coach Bill Belichick says “it hasn’t really been an issue” dealing with the absences of general manager Michael Lombardi and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick.
“People have picked up in areas and we’ve done the things that we had to do at this time of year,” Belichick said on Friday, Aug. 14, during a press conference inside the Kenan Football Center.
“Things will change, as they always do, on the calendar, as recruiting changes, as the regular season comes into play and so forth. But for this period, it’s been the same until it changes, which will be in late August, early September.”
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UNC announced on July 27 that Lombardi, the highest-paid GM in college football at $1.5 million per year, was placed on paid administrative leave. The “dead period” on the recruiting calendar runs through Aug. 31, with the evaluation period gearing back up from Sept. 1 through Nov. 29. The early signing period is Dec. 2-4 and national signing day is set for Feb. 3, 2027. As of Aug. 14, UNC has 17 commitments in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports.
As has been the case before each of Belichick’s three press conferences during fall camp, a UNC spokesperson has said coaches and players can’t address details about the Lombardi situation.
For the Tar Heels, Belichick added, “hopefully this will be resolved soon.”
In addition to Lombardi's absence, Belichick announced on Aug. 6 that Steve Belichick is on medical leave. When asked about his son and defensive play-calling duties, Belichick didn’t want to dive into the details of an unknown situation.
“Well, the season doesn’t start today,” Belichick said, “so you get a bunch of hypothetical questions.”
The Tar Heels have maintained a message of “focusing on football” throughout preseason practice regarding the Lombardi investigation and Steve Belichick’s medical leave.
“Just keep the main thing, the main thing, not really focusing on the outside things,” running back Demon June said. “Coming in every day in camp with the focus to get better.”
The Tar Heels open the 2026 season in just under two weeks against TCU in Ireland.
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Bill Belichick, UNC football adjusting amid Michael Lombardi, Steve Belichick absences