UNC Fires Kitchens, Priefer After 4-8 Season

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels football program announced on Friday that it has parted ways with offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, following a disappointing 4-8 season in head coach Bill Belichick's debut year.

The decision comes one year after Belichick's introductory press conference and reflects the team's struggles on both offense and special teams. North Carolina's offense ranked among the nation's weakest, finishing 131st out of 136 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total yards per game at 288.8, according to NCAA statistics. The Tar Heels averaged just 19.3 points per game, placing 121st in scoring offense, and struggled in the red zone, ranking 119th with a conversion rate that limited their scoring opportunities.

The unit managed only 25 total touchdowns during the 2025 season, with quarterbacks Gio Lopez, Max Johnson—who has since transferred—and Au'Tori Newkirk combining for 13 passing touchdowns. The team scored fewer than 20 points in seven of its 12 games and failed to exceed 27 points against any Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. Their lone outing with 30 or more points...