A previously suspended coach has rejoined North Carolina football’s staff.
UNC head coach Bill Belichick announced that suspended cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins is back with the team ahead of Saturday’s matchup with No. 16 Virginia in Chapel Hill.
“Yeah, he’s back,” Belichick told reporters on Monday. “The university cleared him, they went through their process with him and he’s back, yes.”
The program suspended Hawkins on Oct. 9 for “violating NCAA rules” amid allegations that UNC provided players with prohibited benefits, including sideline passes to players’ family members.
The length of the suspension was initially left ambiguous, with UNC issuing a statement that said “he will remain on leave as the Department of Athletics further investigates other potential actions detrimental to the team and University.”
Hawkins’ suspension added to the laundry list of controversies surrounding the team’s leadership — which has exacerbated a dreadful 2-4 start to Belichick’s first year at the helm.
Earlier this month, a damning report from local WRAL News detailed conversations with sources close to the program and a frustrated parent — censuring the UNC coaching staff for the program’s collapse.
“It’s all starting at the top, and the boys are being affected,” the parent told WRAL.
“I don’t fault the players; I fault the leadership that created this toxic environment. There’s an individualistic mindset. The boys are young, and they are feeding into it.”
The outlet’s report accused Belichick and company of presiding over a divided locker room and failing to communicate with parents and players.
Belichick, 73, arrived in Chapel Hill with one of the greatest resumes in football history, but some parents and players believe the rest of the staff isn’t at nearly the same level.
“The lack of experience the coaches have, it’s ridiculous,” a source told WRAL.
Amid the program’s downward spiral — suffering a 21-18 heartbreaker at California thanks to a crushing fumble on Friday night — the disastrous on-field product has been overshadowed by the head coach’s controversial personal life with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson. The couple was mocked on the scoreboard during the loss to the Golden Bears.
The Tar Heels will hope to make headlines for the right reasons on Saturday at noon.
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