North Carolina assistant coach Armond Hawkins has reportedly been suspended after allegations of providing players with extra benefits became public on Monday.
According to the Athletic, Hawkins has been suspended following the publication of a lengthy story about frustrations around Bill Belichick’s first year in charge of the North Carolina football program by WRAL. Per the Athletic’s report, the suspension stems from allegedly giving a player’s family sideline passes — a violation of NCAA rules and something mentioned in WRAL’s story.
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From WRAL:
According to several sources, some Belichick-recruited transfers have preferential parking for themselves and their parents, as well as more tickets for games. Khmori House and Thaddeus Dixon played for Belichick’s son, Steve Belichick, at the University of Washington. Their names come up repeatedly when talking to sources about preferential treatment. Dixon’s family has field access on game days, something that no other family is believed to have.
Hawkins came to North Carolina from Washington with defensive coordinator Steve Belichick. Hawkins was a defensive analyst with the Huskies in 2024 after previously working at Arizona, Colorado and USC.
North Carolina is 2-3 heading into its second and final off week of the season. The Tar Heels’ only victories have come against FCS-level Richmond and Charlotte, one of the worst teams at the top level of college football. UNC has been outscored by 77 points in its three losses to TCU, UCF and Clemson. The Tigers were up 28-3 in the first quarter of their 38-10 win in Chapel Hill in Week 6.
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The anecdote about Hawkins wasn’t the only revelation about Belichick’s program in the WRAL story. The school cited multiple sources that said Belichick didn’t meet with returning players for weeks after he was hired in December and one source told the station that Steve Belichick “has not talked or had a conversation with most of the guys on the defense.” Steve Belichick is in his second year as a college defensive coordinator after running Washington’s defense in 2024 following his father’s departure from the New England Patriots.
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