North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick announced Friday that he has fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer.
In a statement, Belichick thanked both coaches for their dedication to the program and student-athletes and wished them success in their future careers.
The Tar Heels finished 4-8 in Belichick’s first season, struggling offensively with a ranking of 121 out of 136 Division I FBS teams in points per game. North Carolina’s passing offense ranked 107th nationally, while the running game was 22nd. The team averaged 288.8 yards per game, the sixth-fewest among FBS programs.
Belichick, widely regarded for his defensive expertise in the NFL, worked alongside his son and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick to guide a defense that allowed the 39th fewest points per game nationally. The Tar Heels ranked 37th against the run and 54th against the pass, giving up the 68th fewest points per game overall.
Kitchens had joined North Carolina in 2023 as tight ends coach and run game coordinator. He served as interim head coach for the 2024 Fenway Bowl loss to UConn before Belichick took over as permanent head coach for the 2025 season.