North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick revealed Tuesday that he’s addressed the off-field distractions involving his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, with the football team.
“I talked to the players when we meet with them,” Belichick said, according to ESPN’s David Hale. “We want to make the players the best they can be and give them the best opportunity on and off the field.”
The Tar Heels released a statement last week denying a report that Hudson had been banned from their football facilities.
“Really off to the side,” Belichick added. “It’s a personal relationship, and she doesn’t have anything to do with football.”
Belichick’s relationship with Hudson, 24, recently attracted heightened attention after a clip showed her interjecting during a CBS interview with Belichick to promote the 73-year-old’s upcoming book on his coaching life.
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham praised Belichick on Tuesday, saying that the six-time Super Bowl champion hasn’t let off-field matters affect his job.
“Bill’s been great to work with,” he said. “He talked about practicing like a pro, and he runs a professional organization that is teaching students how to be professional in all aspects of their life. He is a very determined, professional individual, and that’s the way he carries himself and the way he conducts the program.”
“Bill is an incredibly focused person,” Cunningham added.
Belichick – arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history – made a stunning move to college football this offseason to replace Mack Brown at North Carolina on a five-year contract.
