Bill Belichick makes staff changes at UNC after 4-8 season

Field Level Media
12 Dec 2025, 21:55 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Rodd Baxley/The Fayetteville Observer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Bill Belichick is making changes to his staff at North Carolina, dismissing offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer.

The moves come after the Tar Heels finished 4-8 (2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) in the 2025 season, Belichick's first at Chapel Hill.

'We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes,' Belichick said in a news release issued Friday morning. 'We wish them both nothing but the best in their future endeavors.'

Kitchens, a former head coach of the Cleveland Browns, was hired as the run game coordinator and tight ends coach at North Carolina in 2023. Belichick retained Kitchens from the staff of former coach Mack Brown and promoted him to offensive coordinator, in part because of his extensive NFL experience.

The Tar Heels ranked 119th out of 136 FBS teams in average points per game (19.2), 107th in passing yards (183.5) and 122nd in rushing yards (105.2).

Priefer, 59, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Navy in 1994. He moved to the NFL in 2022, and worked as either special teams coordinator or assistant coordinator with six franchises before joining Belichick's inaugural staff.

He was the special teams coordinator under Kitchens with the Browns in 2019. Kitchens, 51, was fired after a 6-10 season.

--Field Level Media

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