What NC State’s Dave Doeren said about his relationship with UNC’s Bill Belichick
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick is no stranger to N.C. State’s football facilities, but on Saturday he will visit for the first time as an opposing coach.
When the Wolfpack (6-5) hosts UNC (4-7) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for senior day, Belichick will be on the sidelines.
His previous visit, however, came under different circumstances.
In March 2018, Belichick attended N.C. State’s Pro Day, annual pre-NFL Draft evaluation events held on college campuses. He was, at the time, the New England Patriots head coach and general manager.
That year, Wolfpack defensive line stars Bradley Chubb, BJ Hill, Kentavius Street and Justin Jones were draft eligible and attempting to boost their draft stock at the showcase.
N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said Monday that he remembers the visit. Belichick was “great to be around” and asked a lot of questions.
Chubb went No. 5 overall to the Denver Broncos. The other players were taken in Rounds 3 and 4, but none went to New England. Running back Nyheim Hines and offensive tackle Will Richardson were also drafted that season.
Doeren complimented Belichick’s hands-on approach during his time in the NFL.
“He was one of the few head coaches in the NFL that would call you once a year, twice a year, to talk about your roster,” Doeren said. “I was always impressed with his attention to detail and how involved he wanted to be in the process of building his team in New England.”
Dave Doeren and Bill Belichick’s relationship
Doeren’s and Belichick’s relationship goes beyond their interactions about players who might turn pro. Thanks to other connections, the Wolfpack’s leader spent time visiting Foxborough, Massachusetts, during the collegiate offseason to watch voluntary practices, listen to meetings and watch how Belichick ran the Patriots organization.
Bret Bielema, one of Doeren’s mentors and a former coworker at Wisconsin, served on Belichick’s staff in 2018-19. Kansas City Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly is Doeren’s close friend and a former teammate at Drake. Daly worked for Belichick from 2014-18.
The two connected Doeren with the Patriots. Doeren said he appreciates the learning opportunities he received while visiting New England earlier in his head coaching career. Since Belichick was hired by the Tar Heels last December, Doeren hasn’t spent much time with the coach except at the ACC annual meetings at Amelia Island, Florida, in May.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach and how he did his job up there,” Doeren said of Belichick. “(He’s a) really detailed guy. Understands the game, has a great eye for how the game’s played. It’s great having him in the conference.”
Bill Belichick on Dave Doeren
Belichick provided fewer details on Tuesday when asked about his relationship with the Wolfpack’s head coach.
“I’ve known Coach Doeren for quite a while,” Belichick said during a press conference. “One of his best friends is a coach who worked with me, Bret Bielema. Have a ton of respect for what Dave has done.”
Belichick complimented the toughness Doeren imparts on his teams. Players are expected to earn every rep, every snap and fight to make contributions until the end of games — even in blowout losses, Belichick said.
Carolina expects a disciplined and high-energy opponent and rowdy environment for its final game of the season.
“(It’s) a hard-working group of guys,” Belichick said. “If you’ve been through the program with him, you know how to work. You’re tough, physically and mentally tough. He runs a good program.”
Dave Doeren’s other connections
N.C. State has also faced other opponents with whom Doeren or a member of the staff has connections. Ruffin McNeill, Doeren’s mentor and assistant, previously coached at East Carolina. The two coached against each other early in Doeren’s tenure with the Wolfpack. McNeill and the Pirates won both games, in 2013 and 2016.
Doeren and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash is a close friend, and the two played at Drake together before coaching alongside each other at their alma mater and then at Wisconsin.
Doeren looks forward to playing against Belichick on Saturday, and hopes the Wolfpack comes out on top. N.C. State has won four consecutive games against the Tar Heels and is 8-4 in the rivalry under Doeren.
“Like always, I love coaching,“ Doeren said. “I love the matchups, I love the Xs and Os and the chess match of the game and all that. I look forward to the competition in our game with him.”
