Copyright Athlon Sports
Highlights A Betway study tracking coach mentions on social media found that North Carolina’s Bill Belichick had 188,000 total mentions and 31,540 negative posts, more than any college head coach. Fellow beleaguered coaches in the top 10 included Auburn’s Hugh Freeze and Florida State’s Mike Norvell. Belichick’s first college season has been rocky: UNC is 2-5, 0-3 in the ACC, and observers note turbulence on and off the field that is fueling fan frustration. The University of North Carolina’s bold move last December to hire NFL legend Bill Belichick seemed custom-made for big headlines. But five games into his first college campaign, the glow has faded fast. According to a new analysis by Betway, which used social-media sentiment tools to count coach mentions classed as negative, Belichick now holds the “hottest seat” among all college coaches. Betway tracked mentions for coaches across the country and found Belichick’s name appeared 188,000 times, while 31,540 of those mentions were deemed negative. That far outpaced the next-closest college coach, Auburn’s Hugh Freeze (11,380 negative mentions), and Florida State’s Mike Norvell (7,120). Further down the list were Kentucky’s Mark Stoops (5,040), Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell (4,660) and South Carolina’s Shane Beamer (3,600). UNC’s 2025 campaign has hardly matched the hype of the Belichick hire. The Tar Heels are 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the ACC, with off-field turbulence becoming part of the conversation. The turmoil in Chappell Hill has been so visible, in fact, Belichick and North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham felt the need to release a statement in early October. “I’m fully committed to UNC football and the program we’re building here,” Belichick said. “Coach Belichick has the full support of the department of athletics and the university,” Cunningham added. While early ticket sales soared (UNC sold out its entire season ticket allocation ahead of the 2025 campaign), the current social-media storm underscores rising fan frustration with Belichick and the Tar Heels. North Carolina will be back in action Friday as they travel to take on Syracuse. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air on ESPN.
