When Bill Belichick took the reins as the new football coach at the University of North Carolina, it was supposed to be a fresh start and a big win for the Tar Heels.
But behind the scenes, things didn’t quite go as smoothly as hoped.
In fact, internal emails from UNC officials revealed some awkward moments — including repeatedly misspelling Belichick’s name.
Misspelled Name Sparks Eyebrows and Raises Questions
WRAL News uncovered a trove of internal emails after filing a public records request, exposing a conversation between UNC’s media relations staff and university communications leaders.
What stood out was how often “Belichick” was misspelled as “Belichik” in official responses.
One alum expressed sharp criticism over the coach’s highly publicized relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, calling the situation a “laughing stock” for the university’s sports reputation.
In response, media staff drafted a statement praising Belichick’s coaching credentials — albeit with the wrong spelling — trying to smooth things over.
The Fallout from a Rocky CBS Interview
The uproar was sparked by a controversial CBS interview in which Belichick and Hudson refused to discuss how their relationship began, leaving many questions unanswered.
The emails revealed Belichick’s attempts to manage the backlash, clarifying Hudson’s involvement—or lack thereof—with the football program.
Belichick told university officials, “Jordon and I have both a personal & professional relationship,” explaining that she helps with his personal media matters, which is why media requests get forwarded to her.
But he emphasized she has “zero involvement in the UNC football program,” aside from media overlaps.
Why Was Hudson at the Interview?
Another point of contention was Hudson’s presence at the CBS interview, which was intended to promote Belichick’s new book, The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football.
Belichick said Hudson attended because the publicist from his publisher wasn’t there, and he credited her with creative contributions to the book, including the idea for special formatting.
However, WRAL News reports suggest Hudson planned to attend the interview regardless of the publicist’s presence, adding another layer of intrigue to the story.
What’s Next for Belichick and UNC?
With these revelations now public, UNC finds itself navigating a tricky PR situation.
The mix of personal relationships, media missteps, and internal communication errors has stirred plenty of debate among fans and alumni alike.
Whether this will affect Belichick’s tenure with the Tar Heels remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — the spotlight on the new coach is brighter than ever.