Belichick arrived at Chapel Hill amid much fanfare, signing a five-year $50m (£36m) deal to join a university which, thanks to the likes of Michael Jordan and legendary head coach Dean Smith, has a far greater legacy in basketball than American football.

His first year in college after almost 50 years in the NFL was markedly below expectations with North Carolina slumping to a 4-8 record.

While some have questioned how last season’s struggles, and his final years with the Patriots, will impact his reputation, linebacker Derek McDonald said it is “pretty special” to be working under the head coach.

“We’re just trying to soak up as much knowledge as we can,” said the transfer from Syracuse.

“He knows so much about football, but not even just about football, about life. He has so much more wisdom than us. He really just preaches the process and doing things the right way.

“He’s in here all day long and he loves football, loves doing everything he can to get us prepared. For us, it’s to understand that if we can work as hard as him and soak up some of that knowledge he has, then we’ll definitely find success.”