CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — An assistant coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team has been suspended, the university’s athletics department confirmed Thursday.
Armond Hawkins, the team’s cornerbacks coach, was suspended “for violating NCAA rules related to extra benefits,” according to the department.
“He will remain on leave as the Department of Athletics further investigates other potential actions detrimental to the team and University,” Carolina Athletics said in a statement.
Hawkins, like many others on new head coach Bill Belichick’s staff, is in his first year with the program. He previously worked with Steve Belichick, UNC’s defensive coordinator and the head coach’s son, at Washington. He served as a secondary analyst and assistant director of recruiting for the Huskies last season. The Southern California native also held similar roles at Arizona in 2023 and worked in recruiting for Colorado and USC prior to that.
Along with coaches, four players also came to UNC from Washington: cornerback Thaddeus Dixon, linebacker Khmori House, wide receiver Jason Robinson and safety Peyton Waters transferred in via the portal. All four, like Hawkins, are from the Los Angeles area.
According to public records, Hawkins was hired on Jan. 23, 2025 and is making $275,000 in salary this season.
The suspension of Hawkins comes amid reports that Belichick and UNC are looking to part ways after a disappointing 2-3 start for the Tar Heels. But both the head coach and UNC Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham released statements late Wednesday night saying both parties remain committed to the program.
UNC football is off this weekend and will next play at California on Oct. 17.