North Carolina confirmed Thursday that Michael Lombardi has resigned from his role with the football program, more than a month after the university placed him on paid administrative leave on July 27.
Resignation and university response
The school said it will continue its ongoing investigation and “will consider all appropriate corrective actions responsive to the information it learns.” Lombardi, in a statement released Thursday, said he “decided it’s best for me to resign my position…to allow the team to focus on the ’26 season,” and he thanked Bill Belichick and UNC chancellor Lee Roberts.
UNC’s announcement comes after Lombardi had been on paid leave and had not been with the program since late July. The university did not release additional personnel details in its public statement.
Allegations raised during probing of the program
Investigators have expanded questioning inside the program, pursuing matters beyond the personnel complaint that led to Lombardi’s leave. They also asked about possible sexual relationships between assistant coaches and recruiting staff.
Those inquiries, as reported to WRAL News, underscore the scope of the university’s review and have prompted UNC officials to emphasize that the work will continue despite Lombardi’s departure.
Context and unresolved items
Details remain limited and some elements of the situation are unconfirmed. Lombardi was put on paid administrative leave on July 27, and in July ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that his leave stemmed from a human-resources complaint filed by a former UNC front-office employee.
University officials have said the investigative work is ongoing and will inform any corrective steps. For now, the departure of Lombardi has put renewed attention on internal operations within the football program and on how the university addresses allegations involving staff and recruits.
UNC’s next public updates will be watched closely by supporters and stakeholders as the investigation proceeds and the program prepares for the 2026 season.
