2026 North Carolina Football Coach Odds: Who Would Replace Bill Belichick?

By Bill Speros Oct 8th, 2025 6:58 PM EDT

The tenure of Bill Belichick and his "Muse" Jordon Hudson has been disastrous for the North Carolina football program. (USA TODAY)

What are the latest 2026 North Carolina Football Coach Odds?

In much the same way the sordid affair between Antony and Cleopatra led to the downfall of Egypt, the duo of Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson has, perhaps, led to the complete disintegration of the North Carolina college football program.

North Carolina hired Belichick just 10 months ago. His arrival in Chapel Hill (or “Chapel Bill ©) came with national fanfare, and astronomical aspirations.

However, the Clemson tarred-and-feathered the Heels in their ACC opener in a it-could-have-been-a-lot-worse 38-10 rout. That loss left the Tar Heels at 2-3 overall and opened the door for a flood of negative reports about the program. And reports that Belichick and the Heels are working on “potential exit strategies.” Thus, our 2026 North Carolina Football Coach Odds.

Who Will Be The 2026 North Carolina Football Coach?

With Belichick’s tenure at UNC possibly headed toward an early stop, bookies.com Senior Handicapper Adam Thompson has set odds on the Tar Heels’ head coach in 2026. These prices are not available on licensed sports books in the United States and are offered for entertainment purposes only.

Candidate	Current Role	Odds	Implied Chance (%)
Jon Sumrall	Tulane HC	+400	20.0%
Jamey Chadwell	Liberty HC	+500	16.7%
Glenn Schumann	Georgia DC	+600	14.3%
Matt Campbell	Iowa State HC	+750	11.8%
Dan Mullen	Former Florida HC	+800	11.1%
Bob Chesney	James Madison HC	+850	10.5%
Freddie Kitchens	UNC OC	+900	10.0%
Arthur Smith	Steelers OC	+1000	9.1%
Bill Belichick	UNC HC	+1500	6.3%
The Field	—	+950	9.5%

Top 2026 North Carolina Coaching Candidates

Here’s a look at the 5 favorites to be the UNC head football coach in 2026:

The Tulane Green Wave went 12-2 under Jon Sumrall last season and are off to a 4-1 start in 2025. (USA TODAY)

Jon Sumrall, Tulane HC (+400)

Buzz: The Green Wave (4-1) went 12-2 in Sumrall’s first season as head coach. His experience as an assistant included a stop at Ole Miss. He would likely build the Heels from the defense on out, and work to make them competitive in the middle of the ACC for staters. The favorite in our 2026 North Carolina Football Coach Odds.

Jamey Chadwell, Liberty HC (+500)

Buzz: The Flames sputtered early this season, getting off to a 1-4 start. Jamey Chadwell has a familiar name in Carolina, having coached Coastal Carolina from 2019-22. The Powers that be in Chapel Hill may want a familiar and safe face following the “Belichick – Hudson Reign of Error.”

Glenn Schumann, Georgia DC (+600)

Buzz: Given the limitations in which UNC could well find itself following Belichick’s departure and likely buy out, the most cost-efficient way to build the program would be through the defense. Glenn Schumann has been a part of the Bulldogs’ program since 2016. That means he brings a national championship pedigree to the UNC program. But without the baggage that Belichick brought with his 8 Super Bowl rings.

Matt Campbell, Iowa St. HC (+750)

Buzz: Matt Campbell and the Cyclones are 104-67 during his tenure as head coach. Campbell owns the school record in wins as a head coach. He’d be a marquee name and would be costly, especially when compared to some of the other names in this market. But he’s built a success program. And owns a strong reputation in the college football sphere. In August, the Cyclones rewarded him with an extension that runs through the 2032 season.

Dan Mullen, UNLV HC (+800)

Buzz: The UNLV football program has thrived under Dan Mullen. The Rebels began this season 5-0 for the first time since 1968. Many University of Florida football fans believed the Gators pulled the pin too soon with Mullen. Florida tossed him aside in 2021 after a 5-6 start. Mullen’s a sure bet to return to a Power 4 school this offseason, perhaps even Florida.

How Did North Carolina Get Here?

This week, WRAL reported that player and their parents blame The Hoodie for the dysfunction hobbling the program. The TV station reported that losses are a product of a divided locker room, a disorganized coaching staff and a failure to communicate.

"It's an unstructured mess," a source with first-hand knowledge of the program told WRAL. "There's no culture, no organization. It's a complete disaster."

Meanwhile, 24/7 Sports reports that “potential exit strategy discussions” are underway to extract the university and Belichick from their $50 million, 5-year program.