North Carolina coach Bill Belichick is expected to bring Bobby Petrino to the Tar Heels as his new offensive coordinator, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reports. Petrino handled play-calling duties at Arkansas the past two seasons under Sam Pittman and assumed interim coach status near midseason when Pittman was fired.
Petrino and Chip Kelly were reported as finalists for Belichick, with Belichick ultimately going with the option with more recent success at the college level as he enters his second season leading the Tar Heels.
Belichick fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens earlier this month as part of sweeping changes made to his coaching staff after the Tar Heels’ disappointing 4-8 finish. Kitchens was one of the only on-field assistants that Belichick retained upon his arrival in Chapel Hill, but North Carolina’s offense struggled this fall, finishing at the bottom of the ACC in several statistical categories.