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09/17 14:04 CDT UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigns, probe into conduct in football program concludes UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigns, probe into conduct in football program concludes By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) --- North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the son of head coach Bill Belichick, has resigned from his position as the school concludes a probe into its football program. The school released a statement Thursday morning saying Steve Belichick's resignation would be effective in late October at the conclusion of a medical leave, which was announced early in preseason camp. That made him the second high-profile resignation amid the probe, the other being general manager Michael Lombardi earlier this month. UNC's statement comes after the school's investigation "determined that certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina's values and standards of conduct," according to the statement. The school didn't reveal specifics of those actions found by the review, nor had it discussed details of the investigation launched in late July. "The investigation also found that these actions were isolated in scope and not a systemic failure," the school said. In a Thursday interview with The Associated Press, The Assembly and WRAL of Raleigh, lead investigator and attorney Nate Huff along with UNC general counsel Paul Newton wouldn't discuss detailed findings or conduct by specific individuals. But Huff confirmed his team probed allegations tied to potential drug use, inappropriate relationships and NCAA rule violations within the program while conducting roughly 60 interviews. "At no point did I feel like the university counsel's office or university leadership or athletics leadership was limiting or steering me," Huff said. "I felt they were the people to whom I would go to to get the access I needed to get to the bottom of all this. And that was my experience. "So my team and I were able to immerse ourselves in Carolina football and its compliance and its culture, and in these allegations." The list of interviewees included Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots before making his NFL-to-college transition in December 2024. The probe ran throughout preseason camp, then continued as the Tar Heels beat TCU and East Tennessee State to start Belichick's second season. "He made his whole staff and himself available to me during football season," Huff said. "And these coaches that I talked to, people that I talked to in that building, the only thing they were asking me was, ?When do you need me?' and ?Where do you need me to be?' "So I was able to investigate football in the middle of football season fully. And I had access to people, even people like coach Bill Belichick." In Bill Belichick's first news conference after Lombardi's Sept. 3 resignation, he faced questions that largely dealt nothing with football. Belichick said he believes his program "totally" has an atmosphere of following rules, saying: "Obviously everybody's responsible, including me, for doing things properly. And we intend to do that." That same day, UNC vice chancellor for communications Dean Stoyer --- who released Thursday's statement --- said the school "continues to support Bill Belichick and the Carolina football program." The school announced its probe in late July in the days after putting Lombardi on paid administrative leave. The same day Lombardi resigned, WRAL of Raleigh cited anonymous sources in reporting the type of questions asked of some interviewees, with some focusing on Steve Belichick. Additionally, Lombardi attorney Tom Mars told The Athletic that the school's probe now included questions into potential "inappropriate" relationships that didn't involve his client. Mars didn't return a call or email from the AP regarding that comment at the time. The school on Thursday declined to comment on individuals in the probe, citing university policy on personnel matters. UNC said that "all necessary corrective actions are now underway" and that it considers the investigation to be "resolved." ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here

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