The University of North Carolina is investigating allegations involving assistant coach Steve Belichick and members of the football recruiting staff that could provide grounds to terminate head coach Bill Belichick for cause and eliminate his buyout. The investigation reportedly includes whether Steve Belichick used drugs on the job or provided drugs to at least one player, whether an unnamed recruiting staff member had a sexual relationship with a player, and whether assistant coaches and recruiting staff engaged in sexual relationships.
Under Article 11(c) of Bill Belichick's contract, the university can fire him for cause if actions by someone he supervises, or actions he knew about and failed to report to the athletics compliance office, result in a material disciplinary finding, action, or sanction from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the university, or another regulatory body. A finding that Belichick knew about one or more of the alleged incidents and did not report them as required could trigger the for-cause termination clause.
Firing Belichick for cause would allow UNC to avoid paying his buyout. The contract specifies that violations exceeding an institutional letter of admonishment or reprimand qualify as grounds for termination.
The existence of the investigation suggests that officials within UNC may be seeking a reason to end Belichick's tenure. At programs where the team is winning, potential violations often receive less scrutiny, but detailed review of contract termination provisions typically occurs when administrators are looking for a way out.