Bill Belichick was officially hired as North Carolina’s football coach Dec. 11, 2024. Michael Lombardi was his first hire, before he brought any coordinators or position coaches on board.Belichick named Lombardi the program’s general manager — a new title in college football gaining popularity as roster-building in the sport becomes more professionalized.Lombardi’s contract pays him $1.5 million, double what many of the top general managers and personnel staffers in college football were being paid. Some have since topped $1 million in annual salary, but Lombardi is still the sport’s highest-paid personnel staffer.When Belichick brought Lombardi to North Carolina, Lombardi hadn’t worked in football in almost a decade, instead spending much of his time working in media for a variety of outlets and alongside Belichick on the “Coach” podcast.He hadn’t worked in college football since a four-year stint as recruiting coordinator at UNLV in 1981-84.Here’s a look at some of the notable moments and chapters since his arrival at Chapel Hill:February 2025: In his introductory news conference, Lombardi said his day looks much like it did when he was working alongside Belichick in the NFL: “Get here early, watch tape, study players, write reports,” he said.Later in the news conference, he made headlines with a line that’s stuck with UNC, often used pejoratively after the Tar Heels stumbled to a 4-8 debut season and lost to all three in-state rivals for the first time since 1989.“We consider ourselves the 33rd (NFL) team because everybody who’s involved with our program has had some form or aspect in pro football,” Lombardi said.April 2025: UNC’s 2025 transfer class featured 41 new players, which ranked ninth nationally, according to 247Sports. The roster churn also included 50 players departing the program.