By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — While Bill Belichick has focused on the big picture, generating headlines and massive attention on the Carolina football program, Freddie Kitchens has been the steadying force getting the Tar Heels ready for the Fenway Bowl.
UNC named Kitchens the interim coach the day after Mack Brown’s second tenure as head coach ended with the N.C. State loss, and it’s been a whirlwind since then.
In his 25-year coaching career, Kitchens has seen a lot, so he’s learned not to be surprised by any changes on NFL teams or in college programs. He wasn’t shocked.
“I think the longer you stay in this business, the least amount you’ll be shocked. Not at all,” he said. “Coach Belichick is a ball coach, and I feel very fortunate to be able to extend and work here at Carolina, for him and for the people at Carolina.”
He’s also not shocked about the impact Belichick has had on every aspect of the program.
“I think any time Coach Belichick talks to someone on the phone — whether it be a recruit or recruit’s parent, or anything dealing with that potential athlete — for us, there’s definitely an excitement.”
While Kitchens and Belichick are in contact every day, Kitchens is running the practices and preparing for the 11 a.m. Dec. 28 game against UConn at Boston’s Fenway Park. He’s never been to a game there and only seen it from the outside while doing college tours with his daughter.
“He’s aware of practice and things like that,” said Kitchens, who is trying to make each practice competitive. “But, right now, I think we’re just going to finish the year out, and we’ll go from there.”
Belichick is leaving game-planning to the staff while staying updated on what’s happening every day.
Success in bowl games often depends on which team is happier to be there and more motivated to win, and that can vary widely. Will the buzz pulsating through the program since Belichick’s hiring help UNC in that regard?
“Anytime you have a new beginning, there’s going to be excitement,” Kitchens said. “But the excitement turning into a good thing is up to the individual player. I’m a short-term vision kind of guy right now, and my role right now is just to make sure I can do everything in my power — and the rest of the coaches do everything in their power — to get this team ready to play.”
Other than the exits of Brown and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey — who Michigan hired as offensive coordinator last week — the rest of the coaching staff for the bowl game is the same.
The offensive staff will collectively fill Lindsey’s role, with Lonnie Galloway — the assistant head coach, passing-game coordinator and wide receivers coach — scripting and preparing the team for each practice.
Kitchens has a job to do, and winning the game is important. But the Huskies haven’t been at the top of his agenda yet.
“It really hasn’t been about Connecticut at this point,” Kitchens said. “We’re just trying to do a good job of staying where our feet are and getting better each and every day, collectively and individually. And I think these guys have done a good job of knocking out some of the distractions and doing that.”
Kitchens, UNC’s run-game coordinator and tight ends coach for the last two seasons, embraces his key role in the transition from Brown and being the assistant coach Belichick hired.
The job description has changed dramatically but not his mission.
“However I factor in offensively or defensively or overall scheme of things, really it’s just to try to put the player in the best position to be successful, whether that be as a position coach, a coordinator, a head coach, it doesn’t matter,” Kitchens said. “You’re still trying to just put them in the best position to be successful.”
NOTES — Carolina has lured 10 players out of the transfer portal: Delaware defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude, Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne, South Carolina tight end Connor Cox, Washington linebacker Khmori House, Holy Cross offensive lineman Christo Kelly, Rice center Chad Lindberg, Alabama offensive tackle Miles McVay, East Carolina defensive tackle C.J. Mims and Michigan place-kicker Adam Samaha. … Carolina has practiced every other day since exams ended and will practice every day after the team gets this Friday and Saturday off to be with their families. … The team will arrive in Boston on Tuesday. … Carolina has won all three meetings with UConn, 48–21 in 1990 and 38–12 in 2008 in Chapel Hill and 12–10 in 2009 at UConn. … Drake Maye won’t be able to attend the Fenway Bowl because the New England Patriots have a 1 p.m. home game the same day against the Los Angeles Chargers.
UNC schedule
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| August | ||
| 29 | TBA | vs.TCU in Dublin, Ireland |
| September | ||
| 12 | TBA | vs. ETSU |
| 19 | TBA | at Clemson |
| October | ||
| 3 | TBA | vs. Notre Dame |
| 10 | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 17 | TBA | at Duke |
| 24 | TBA | vs. Syracuse |
| 31 | TBA | vs. Miami |
| November | ||
| 7 | TBA | at UConn |
| 14 | TBA | vs. Louisville |
| 21 | TBA | at Virginia |
| 28 | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| December | ||
| 5 | noon, ABC | ACC championship game in Charlotte |
Transfer portal transactions
Incoming transfers
(Next season’s classes listed)
Senior defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude • 6–5, 260 pounds • Delaware
2024: 11 games, 10 tackles, 17 assists, 6.5 sacks for 50 yards, 8 QB hits
Senior offensive tackle William Boone (2 years of eligibility) • 6–6, 349 pounds • Prairie View A&M
2024: 12 games, team-high 782 snaps; didn’t allow a sack
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne • 6–4, 210 pounds • Purdue
2024: 8 games, 34 of 76, 532 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 127.5 quarterback rating
Junior defensive back Coleman Bryson • 6–2, 210 pounds • Minnesota
2024: 13 games, 14 tackles, 6 assists, 3 passes defended (pick-six below from 2022 season)
Junior tight end Connor Cox • 6–6, 251 pounds • South Carolina
2024: 4 games, 1 catch, 9 yards, 1 TD
Fifth-year cornerback Thaddeus Dixon • 6-1, 186 pounds • Washington
2024: 13 games, 26 tackles, 17 assists, 2 tackles for losses, 1 interception, 10 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Senior defensive back Gavin Gibson • 6-0, 185 pounds • East Carolina
2024: 13 games, 25 tackles, 27 assists, 3 interceptions, 3 pass breakups
Sophomore linebacker Khmori House • 6-0, 213 pounds • Washington
2024: 12 games, 19 tackles, 16 assists, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups, 1 QB hit
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Aziah Johnson • 6–0, 175 pounds • Michigan State
2024: 12 games, 16 catches, 276 yards, 2 touchdowns; 1 rush, 15 yards
Fifth-year center Christo Kelly • 6–4, 305 pounds • Holy Cross
2024: Started 12 games, part of line that allowed 1.08 sacks per game, 11th-best in country
Fifth-year offensive lineman Daniel King • 6–5, 340 pounds • Troy
2024: 12 games, 429 snaps at right tackle, 360 at right guard, allowed 2 sacks, named All-Sun Belt second team
Senior offensive lineman Chad Lindberg • 6–6, 315 pounds • Rice (Georgia before that)
2024: Played 11 games after playing 20 games and 139 snaps for Georgia
Sophomore offensive tackle Miles McVay • 6–6, 340 pounds • Alabama
2024: 5 games, 94 snaps
Sophomore defensive tackle C.J. Mims • 6–2, 302 pounds • East Carolina
2024: 12 games, 4 tackles, 19 assists, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jason Robinson Jr. • 5–10, 151 pounds • Washington
2024: Redshirted after catching 68 passes for 900 yards as a senior at Long Beach Poly
Junior place-kicker Adam Samaha • 5–11, 195 pounds • Michigan
2024: didn’t play (Wolverines had Big Ten Kicker of Year Dominic Zvada)
2023: 1 game, 1 extra-point attempt made • Hit 60-yard FG in training (in below video)
Sophomore safety Peyton Waters • 6–1, 182 pounds • Washington
2024: 13 games, 3 tackles, 2 assists
Redshirt senior defensive lineman Pryce Yates • 6–4, 265 pounds • UConn
2024: 7 games, 12 tackles, 9 assists, 3.5 sacks for 23 yards, 5 QB hurries; Fenway Bowl defensive MVP
Tar Heels entering, exiting portal
(Next season’s classes listed)
Redshirt sophomore 5–11, 180-pound defensive back Ty Adams
2024: 4 tackles
Sophomore 6–3, 300-pound offensive lineman Aidan Banfield
2024: 62.8 Pro Football Focus grade best in country among true freshmen
Fifth-year 6–5, 310 fifth-year center Austin Blaske
2024: Started 11 games with Pro Football Focus grade of 85.6
Junior 6–0, 230-pound linebacker Amare Campbell
2024: 12 games, 42 tackles, 30 assists, 11 tackles for losses, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Fifth-year 5–11, 220-pound running back Caleb Hood
2024: 4 games, 7 carries, 3 yards, 1 catch, 29 yards
Senior 6–1, 190-pound wide receiver Kobe Paysour
2024: 12 games, 19 catches, 330 yards
In the transfer portal
— Offensive linemen Zach Greenberg (committed to James Madison), Jakiah Leftwich (Central Florida), Malik McGowan (UNLV), Andrew Rosinski (Georgia Tech), Howard Sampson (Texas Tech) and Eli Sutton (Austin Peay)
— Running back Jordan Louie
— Quarterbacks Conner Harrell (Charlotte), Michael Merdinger (Liberty) and Jacolby Criswell (East Tennessee State)
— Linebackers Ashton Woods (West Virginia) and Caleb LaVallee (Florida State)
— Defensive lineman Travis Shaw (Texas)
— Defensive backs DeAndre Boykins and Tyrane Stewart
— Place-kicker Noah Burnette (Notre Dame)
Reported Belichick’s staff members
General manager Michael Lombardi — Worked in NFL 1984–2016, including Cleveland Browns general manager in 2013 and assistant to the coaching staff for the New England Patriots 2014–16
Director of Player Personnel Joe Anile — NFL scout for the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars
Assistant Director of Player Personnel Andrew Blaylock — Assistant athletics director for player personnel at Central Florida the last three seasons; had similar positions at Appalachian State 2016–22 and Texas State 2015–16
Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick — Defensive coordinator last season at Washington; New England Patriots defensive coach 2012–23
Strength and conditioning coach Moses Cabrera — New England Patriots assistant strength coach 2011–15; head Patriots strength and conditioning coach 2016–23
Offensive assistant coach Bob Diaco — Was defensive coach at LSU the last two seasons; has coached in college since 1999.
Offensive-line coach Will Friend — Offensive coordinator last season at Western Kentucky; was offensive line coach at Tennessee (2018–20), Auburn (2021–22), Mississippi State (2023) and Tennessee; offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Colorado State (2015–17) and offensive line coach at Georgia (2011–14)
Cory Giddings — Will be part of player personnel staff; Director of Player Personnel at Central Florida the past two seasons, working with Blaylock there, and before that at Appalachian State
Armond Hawkins — Was secondary analyst and assistant director of recruiting last season at Washington. Before that, he spent one season at Arizona, one season at Colorado and two seasons at Southern Cal.
Defensive assistant coach Chris Jones — CFL coach 2002–18, 2021–2024; 2018 CFL Coach of Year at Saskatchewan; head coach in 2015 of Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos; Cleveland Browns defensive assistant coach 2019
Offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens — UNC run-game coordinator and tight ends coach 2023–24; interim UNC coach for 2024 Fenway Bowl; head coach Cleveland Browns 2019; Assistant coach with New York Giants (2020–21), Browns (2018), Arizona Cardinals (2007–2017), Dallas Cowboys (2006), Mississippi State (2004), North Texas (2001–03), LSU (2000) and Glenville State (1999)
Offensive assistant coach Matt Lombardi — Was an offensive analyst last season at Oregon; NFL assistant with Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers
Running backs coach Natrone Means — A UNC running back (1990–92) who was a two-time All-ACC pick, he has been with the program since joining Mack Brown’s staff as an offensive analyst in 2021.
Offensive assistant coach Garrick McGee — Was wide receivers coach at Louisville the last two seasons. Has coached in college since 1996.
Chris Mattes — The former professional lacrosse player had been the New England Patriots’ Director of Football Development, and had been with the team the last eight seasons.
Assistant coach Billy Miller — IMG Academy assistant head coach 2014–21, head coach 2022–24
Special teams coach Mike Priefer — NFL assistant coach since 2002; head special teams coach at Kansas City (2006–08), Denver (2009–10), Minnesota (2011–18) and Cleveland (2019–22).
| Month/ date | Opponent | Time/ score | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | |||
| 29 | at Minnesota | W, 19–17 | 1–0 |
| September | |||
| 7 | vs. Charlotte | W, 38–20 | 2–0 |
| 14 | vs. N.C. Central | W, 45–10 | 3–0 |
| 21 | vs. James Madison | L, 70–50 | 3–1 |
| 28 | at Duke | L, 21–20 | 3–2, 0–1 ACC |
| October | |||
| 5 | vs. No. 18 Pittsburgh | L, 34–24 | 3–3, 0–2 |
| 12 | vs. Georgia Tech | L, 41–34 | 3–4, 0–3 |
| 26 | at Virginia | W, 41–14 | 4–4, 1–3 |
| November | |||
| 2 | at Florida State | W, 35–11 | 5–4, 2–3 |
| 16 | vs. Wake Forest | W, 31–24 | 6–4, 3–3 |
| 23 | at Boston College | L, 41–21 | 6–5, 3–4 |
| 30 | vs. N.C. State | L, 35–30 | 6–6, 3–5 |
| December | |||
| 28 | vs. UConn in Fenway Bowl | 11 a.m. | ESPN |
Photo via @UNCFootball
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