CNN
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The Bill Belichick era at the University of North Carolina has officially begun. On Thursday, the football icon known for his blunt outspokenness was introduced as the Tar Heels’ head coach.

Belichick, the second-winningest head coach in NFL history, said it was a “dream” to be the new coach at UNC.

“I always wanted to coach college football, but it never really worked out. I had some good years in the NFL, so that was fine, but this is really kind of a dream come true,” Belichick said during the press conference in Chapel Hill.

Belichick is connected to the university through his father, Steve, who was an assistant football coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955. He touched on some of those memories.

The famed coach told a story about his childhood in the Belichick household, where his first words were, “Beat Duke!” – the university’s bitter in-state rival. The coach described his return to Chapel Hill as a homecoming.

Belichick also revealed his father’s old UNC sweatshirt that he kept when his father coached at the college.

This is the first coaching job for Belichick, who has won eight Super Bowls as a coach (six as head coach of the New England Patriots and two as an assistant with the New York Giants) since he and the Patriots parted ways in January.

In addition to 24 seasons as head coach of the Patriots, Belichick was head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991 to 1995.

When asked why he wanted to continue coaching, the veteran answered simply.

“Better to work,” Belichick quipped.

“My dad told me this…if you love what you do, it’s not work. I love what I do, I love coaching, I love interacting with the players, I love building a team, working with assistants, game planning, the game itself.”

Belichick, whose five-year contract runs through December 2029, also made it clear that he is here to stay in North Carolina, saying he “didn’t come here to leave” when asked about possible future openings in the NFL was asked.

While Belichick acknowledged there are parallels between the NFL and college football, the longtime coach also noted the many differences.

But Belichick insisted the game was still football. The coach made it clear that he is no stranger to developing young players, citing Patriots stars Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman as players he has helped become successful NFL stars.

The school’s athletic director shared Coach Belichick’s excitement about joining the University of North Carolina program.

“We are launching an entirely new football operation and can’t wait for Coach Belichick to take the reins for us,” said Bubba Cunningham.

“We are known as the University of National Champions and have a Super Bowl champion coach leading the program.”

In honor of his new coach, Cunningham even wore a custom-made jacket with the sleeves torn off — a famous look of Belichick’s when he roamed the NFL sidelines.

For now, Belichick will focus on improving a mediocre college program. The Tar Heels finished the regular season with a 6-6 record and will face Connecticut in the Fenway Bowl on December 28th.

The Tar Heels’ new head coach said he wants to take the program back to its heyday in 1980 – the last time the football team won a conference title.

“We are very proud of this program and I want to do everything I can here to take it to the highest level.”