CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) — After days of rumors and reports, UNC Athletics confirmed that Bill Belichick will be the next head coach of the school’s football team.

The announcement was posted on GoHeels.com before 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

UNC Athletics said Belichick has agreed to a five-year deal. However, the deal will not be finalized until the UNC Board of Trustees meets and signs the contract.

ABC11 reported Wednesday morning that the UNC Board of Trustees is expected to meet to finalize the contract. ABC11 has now learned the meeting will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors Committee on University Personnel announced Wednesday evening that it will hold an emergency meeting Thursday at 3 p.m. The full UNC Board of Governors will hold an emergency meeting at 3:30 p.m

“This is an exciting day for Carolina football and our university,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “Carolina is committed to excellence and to creating an opportunity for success in everything we do, from the classroom to the competitive field.” After speaking with Coach Belichick, I know he shares this commitment. His legacy speaks for itself and we look forward to working together on the next chapter of Carolina football.”

We know that college athletics is changing, and these changes require new and innovative thinking. “Bill Belichick is a football legend and having him lead our program represents a new approach that will ensure Carolina football can evolve, compete and win – today and in the future,” Roberts added. “At Carolina, we believe in providing championship opportunities and the best possible experience for our student-athletes, and Coach Belichick shares that commitment. We look forward to welcoming him to Chapel Hill.”

Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach and one of the most renowned coaches in NFL history. He has 302 wins in the National Football League, just 16 shy of the late Don Shula’s record.

“I am excited about the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill. I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured that time. “I have always wanted to coach in college and am excited to build the Chapel Hill football program,” Belichick said.

He was a surprising possible candidate for the UNC football job that opened up after former coach Mack Brown was fired. Brown is a Hall of Fame coach who returned to UNC for a second season and brought the Tar Heels back to prominence, but failed to bring UNC to national prominence.

UNC leaders hope Belichick’s hiring is the next step in turning the traditional basketball school into a football powerhouse as well.

“That’s what we need, someone who can take us from good to great. “How do we compete for championships — ACC and national championships?” Cunningham said in a UNC-produced podcast early in the coaching search.

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The move from the 73-year-old Brown to the 72-year-old Belichick would mean UNC turning to a coach who has never worked at the collegiate level but has produced incredible NFL talent alongside quarterback Tom Brady for most of his 24 years. His one-year tenure with the Patriots ended last season.

He has since been linked to NFL appearances, most notably with the Atlanta Falcons in January.

Belichick has publicly hypothesized what his college program might look like, emphasizing “IF he had taken a college job.” He noted that modern college football is much more like the NFL.

While Belichick didn’t delve into the specifics of his UNC discussions, he did offer insight into the parallels he sees between leading an NFL team at the college level, where players now have the opportunity to capitalize on their athletic fame through endorsements , and with the arrival of sees there is a threat of a revenue share.

“If I were to go to a college program, the college program would be a connection to the NFL for the players that would have the opportunity to play in the NFL,” Belichick said. “It would be a professional program: training, nutrition, programming, coaching, techniques that would translate to the NFL.”

“It would be a college-level NFL program,” he added.

Additionally, Belichick has at least a small family connection to the UNC program; his late father, Steve, was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955.

The NCAA transfer portal opened Monday, potentially putting UNC’s roster in motion.

Many details about Belichick’s contract remain unknown. Previous reports suggested his hiring would include an increase in NIL resources as well as a staff position for his son Stephen Belichick.

UNC officials have hypothetically talked about potential interest from players if Belichick took the job. They stressed that nothing had been done but had discussions about the idea.

A source told ABC11 that Belichick’s camp first reached out to UNC to express interest in the position.

ABC11’s Sean Coffey, Michael Perchick, Kate Rogerson, ESPN and The Associated Press contributed.