Petrino Hired, UNC Offense Primed for Turnaround

0:00On March 27, Bill Belichek's first year coaching the North Carolina Tar Heels nearly fell apart last season. The team scraped by with just two late wins over Syracuse and Stanford to avoid total disaster. Now heading into 2026, UNC is shaking things up by hiring Bobby Patrino as the new offensive coordinator, replacing Freddie Kitchens. Patrino has a track record of boosting offenses quickly, though it often leads to short stints for head coaches. He did it at Texas A&M under Jimbo Fisher and at Arkansas with Sam Pittman. Last year, UNC's offense ranked wonder 24th nationally, so this move could spark real improvement. Fans and analysts see it as a potential lifeline for Belichek in Chapel Hill. ESPN's Bill Connolly noted Patrino almost certainly lifts the unit from its low point. Whether it stabilizes Belichek's job or signals trouble ahead, the change has everyone watching closely. Patrino inherits quarterback Taren Dickens, a transfer from Western Carolina who threw

1:0338 touchdowns last season and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Returning receiver Jordan Schiff and freshman tight end Carson Sneed give him solid target right away. With Patrino calling plays, UNC's offense looks primed for turnaround this fall, setting the stage for a more competitive season in the ACC. That's the story for today. Auburn Tigers football news today, driven by AI. I'm Corey with the story.