Bill Belichick is back in coaching, but myriad NFL fans can immediately stop dreaming that he is coming to rescue their team.

The eight-time Super Bowl champion has agreed terms on a five-year contract to become the head coach at the University of North Carolina and, while the deal still needs to be approved by the University’s Board of Trustees and Board of Governors, Belichick should be in place to take charge of the Tar Heels well ahead of the 2025 college season.

“We know that college athletics is changing, and those changes require new and innovative thinking,” Carolina director of athletics Bubba Cunningham noted. “Bill Belichick is a football legend, and hiring him to lead our programme represents a new approach that will ensure Carolina football can evolve, compete and win — today and in the future. At Carolina, we believe in providing championship opportunities and the best experience possible for our student-athletes, and Coach Belichick shares that commitment. We are excited to welcome him to Chapel Hill.”

Belichick, who holds the NFL record for most Super Bowl wins, began his coaching career as an assistant at the 1975 Baltimore Colts before becoming defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, where he won two Super Bowls under Bill Parcells, in 1985. He was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1991 and was at the helm for five seasons, and was infamously the HC of the New York Jets for all of five minutes before moving on to the Patriots and becoming head coach in Foxboro’ from 2000. He is a three-time AP NFL Coach of the Year (2003, 2007, 2010), and was only 14 wins away from the overall record at the time of his parting from New England. He does hold the league record for most playoff victories however, at 31, and has an all-time NFL head coaching record of 333-178. Despite taking up a media career, Belichick had been linked to several possible NFL vacancies, most notably at the Dallas Cowboys, since his tenure at the Patriots came to an end, but is now firmly focused on excelling in the college game.

“I am excited for the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill,” Belichick commented in an official statement. “I grew up around college football with my Dad and treasured those times. I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football programme in Chapel Hill.”

Belichick also has ties to North Carolina, as his father, Steve, was an assistant football coach for the Tar Heels between 1953-55, before going on to become assistant coach for more than three decades at the United States Naval Academy.

“This is an exciting day for Carolina football and our University,” chancellor Lee H. Roberts admitted. “Carolina is committed to excellence and to creating an opportunity to succeed in everything we do, from the classroom to the field of competition. I know after speaking with Coach Belichick that he shares that commitment. His legacy speaks for itself, and we look forward to working together on the next chapter of Carolina football.”