"Both clearly wanted to please their fathers": When NFL scout revealed Nick Saban and Bill Belichick's unending similarities
Bill Belichick is getting a fresh start in his coaching career after signing a five-year $50 million deal with the North Carolina Tar Heels on Dec. 11. He joins the program his father, Steve Belichick, once coached. The former Super Bowl Champion will try to lead the team to a winning season and compete for the top spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference next year.
The new career choice may have fans recall when former Cleveland Brown scout Phil Savage compared the NFL legend to accomplished college coach Nick Saban. Both coaches were featured in the HBO documentary "The Art of Coaching" in 2019.
The project showcased their similarities and friendship, spanning over four decades. One thing that both had in common was their Croatian lineage. Saban's father was also a coach but didn't do it at the college level.
Savage pointed out that their fathers raised them similarly and how it affected their coaching careers.
"Bill was an only child, and he was going to that football office with his dad, and at an early age, he was watching films and doing little projects. With Nick, his father was a perfectionist. In terms of the service station and having to watch cars and make sure everything was so before that car went off the lot. I think both clearly wanted to please their fathers," Savage said (8:37).
The newly hired UNC coach spoke about what it meant for him to join the team in a press conference on Dec. 12.
"I've always wanted to coach in college football, and it just never really worked out," Belichick said.
"Has been amazing": Bill Belichick speaks positively of UNC's community & culture
On Monday, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach appeared on the "Pat McAfee Show" to discuss his new position in the UNC community.
"I'm excited to be a part of the process and, you know, to start on all the newness of it," Belichick said. "The spring ball, the schedule, the recruiting, and just interaction twith the other sports. With the lacrosse team here. With the basketball team.
"I went over to watch the basketball team work out, and they have a lot of great players, obviously a great tradition with Carolina basketball. So, just being part of the whole community process here at Chapel Hill has been amazing." (10:55)
Belichick will get more acquainted with the other teams at UNC as he settles into his new coaching position.