North Carolina Fires Freddie Kitchens, Mike Priefer After Disappointing 2025 Season

Bill Belichick’s first season as North Carolina head coach has been a rocky start, culminating in the firing of two key assistants. After a 4-8 finish in 2025, the Tar Heels announced that offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer would not return for 2026, according to On3 Sports.

Kitchens, 51, had been part of the UNC staff since 2023 and served as interim head coach at the end of the 2024 season following Mack Brown’s departure. He was one of the few holdovers retained by Belichick from Brown’s tenure and was elevated to offensive coordinator despite limited experience in that role at the college level.

Priefer, a veteran with more than a decade of NFL special teams experience, had joined North Carolina for the 2025 season after not coaching in 2022. His dismissal marks a quick end to his first college stint in years, reflecting the Tar Heels’ struggles on that side of the ball.

The Tar Heels’ performance in 2025 highlighted the issues. North Carolina ranked last in the ACC with just 288.0 total yards per game and second-to-last with 19.3 points per game. Against Power Four conference opponents, UNC scored 20 or more points in only three games, all against the league’s bottom-five defenses.

1. Kitchens’ Background and Role

Kitchens’ tenure at North Carolina was marked by challenges from the outset. Best known as the former Cleveland Browns head coach, he had limited experience as a full-time offensive coordinator before joining Belichick’s staff. After serving as a senior analyst at South Carolina in 2022, Kitchens became North Carolina’s tight ends coach and run game coordinator under Mack Brown before being promoted to offensive coordinator by Belichick. His first season in the role exposed the difficulties of transitioning to a new system under a high-profile head coach. While Kitchens had previously served as an interim offensive coordinator with the Browns in 2018, the step up to leading a Power Five college offense proved difficult. The team’s struggles in yardage and scoring reflected both the transition and a roster still adapting to Belichick’s schemes. His firing signals Belichick’s desire to reshape the offensive side of the program while bringing in coaches with experience aligned to his approach and philosophy.

2. Priefer’s Departure and Special Teams Struggles

Mike Priefer’s exit also underscores the Tar Heels’ underperformance in key phases of the game. Despite his extensive NFL background, special teams failed to produce consistent results in 2025. Priefer had been brought in to stabilize and improve North Carolina’s special teams units, but the team’s overall struggles limited visible progress. Belichick’s decision reflects the need for cohesion and execution in every facet of the game. With Priefer gone, the only coordinator retained is defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick, Bill’s son, who provides continuity on the defensive side. This will likely allow Bill Belichick to focus on restructuring the offense and special teams while maintaining stability on defense. The departures highlight the broader challenge of building a college program under a first-year head coach, even one with Belichick’s experience, as staff selection and alignment prove critical to immediate success.

3. Looking Ahead for North Carolina

The coaching changes open the door for new hires aimed at improving offensive production and special teams efficiency. North Carolina will now search for coordinators who can implement schemes compatible with Belichick’s philosophy and elevate the team’s competitiveness in the ACC. Belichick faces the challenge of recruiting and developing players under a new system while addressing performance gaps exposed in his debut season. The program’s leadership hopes that swift staff adjustments will create momentum heading into the 2026 season. The next hires will be closely scrutinized, given the program’s high expectations and Belichick’s reputation for demanding excellence. Coordinators capable of delivering results will be key to stabilizing the offense and special teams. As Belichick continues to assemble his staff, the focus will be on restoring confidence among players and setting the foundation for future success in Chapel Hill.