How Thom Tillis and Marco Rubio helped Bill Belichick land the UNC coaching job
When legendary football coach Bill Belichick decided he was interested in the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina, he didn’t just rely on traditional agents or athletic directors — he tapped into political capital to get the ball rolling.
Belichick first signaled his interest last fall through longtime friend, former senator and current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who then reached out to Sen. Thom Tillis.
Tillis then quickly called Phil Berger, the North Carolina Senate president pro tempore, according to a spokesperson for Tillis.
“Coach Belichick’s arrival to UNC is a game-changer, and I was glad to play a very small role in helping make it happen. His historic record and commitment to excellence will have a huge impact not only on the football program, but on the university as a whole. This is the kind of move that can elevate UNC even higher at the national level, and I’m excited to see what the future holds,” said Sen. Tillis in a statement to the News & Observer.
The account was first reported by ESPN.com.
INSIDE LOOK: How Bill Belichick became UNC’s football coach: Inside the Tar Heels’ bold, risky move
Rubio informed Tillis that Belichick was seeking a school with a sterling academic reputation that would allow him to build a program towards a national championship.
“I said, ‘Well, let me go [make some calls],’” Tillis told ESPN.
Berger was the next natural call given his deep ties to the university system, but the state Senate leader thought it was a joke until Tillis convinced him otherwise.
A month later the most accomplished football coach of all time had secured the job in Chapel Hill.
UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts only expressed appreciation for the widespread support that facilitated the signing of Belichick.
“I’m really pleased with the support we’ve gotten across the board,” Roberts told ESPN.
Belichick said he’d always wanted to coach in college and follow the path of his father, but it just “never worked out,” Belichick said last month.
The new coach will have his hands full in rehabilitating a team that has only twice finished in the top 25 in the past quarter-century. UNC has never won a major bowl game.
But in Washington, there’s already speculation about how Tillis’ hand in the biggest coaching coup of the off-season will play into his own political future. Tillis is set to face North Carolina voters again in 2026 if he seeks another term. It’s a race that’s expected to be one of the most competitive on the midterm election map.
“How does Tillis helping land Belichick impact ‘26? This first season will tell us a lot,” said Kirk Bado, an editor for the Washington-based political publication, The Hotline.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM.
