The University of North Carolina have revealed that an internal investigation has been launched regarding the ‘concerning’ allegations made against GM Michael Lombardi.
On Monday, it was revealed that Bill Belichick’s longtime ally Lombardi had been placed on paid administrative leave, weeks before the college football season starts.
Lombardi was Belichick’s first hire when he made the move into the college game after leaving the New England Patriots and failing to land another job in the NFL.
He is paid $1.5million-a-year by UNC, making him the top-paid GM in the college game. But now, he will not be alongside the most successful coach in NFL history in the lead up to his hugely anticipated second campaign in North Carolina.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel revealed that the decision to put him on paid leave was made following ‘a human resources complaint filed by a former UNC front office employee.’
Now, just days later, the university have broken their silence on the matter and provided a candid update about the investigation that will now follow.
The University of North Carolina have revealed that an internal investigation has been launched regarding the ‘concerning’ allegations made against GM Michael Lombardi
Lombardi was Belichick’s first hire when he made the move into the college game
In a statement provided to The Daily Mail on Thursday, they said: ‘As a result of concerns behind allegations that led to the personnel action regarding Michael Lombardi announced on July 27, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, through its Office of University Counsel, is in the process of investigating this matter.
‘Because this involves confidential personnel issues, the University will not comment on the nature of the allegations or discuss personnel information.’
The university announced the news in a bombshell statement on Monday morning, saying: ‘The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has placed Michael Lombardi, general manager for the Carolina football program, on paid administrative leave, effective immediately.
‘As is standard procedure with personnel matters, leadership, staff, and student-athletes are prohibited from addressing this topic further, and has no reflection on the merits.’
According to On3, the final decision was made by UNC itself and not Belichick. The head coach has yet to comment on the decision.
Lombardi and Belichick first worked together in 1987 when Belichick was at the Cleveland Browns.
He was a staunch defender of Belichick, 74, while his personal life and relationship with girlfriend Jordon Hudson, 25, has continued to claim attention.
Lobardi has been one of Belichick’s most trusted friends throughout his career in football
The bombshell news presents a fresh crisis for Belichick weeks before the college season
Last June, he slammed critics of the couple’s relationship after Belichick’s excruciating CBS interview where Hudson called out from off-camera to stop him answering questions on how they first met.
‘It’s comical,’ Lombardi said of the backlash. ‘A lot of it is just noise. For me, to really even attack anybody who’s saying it, gives them credibility. Which I don’t, because it’s a completely false narrative.
‘My job is to focus on North Carolina football, and Bill’s job is to focus on North Carolina football, and that’s what he has done, and that’s what I’ve done. And we’re gonna continue to do that.
‘The noise out there comes from a direction of people trying to be disruptive within our program. We’re not going to allow it.’
But now Lombardi is the noise, leaving Belichick facing a fresh crisis at a terrible time. The team starts practice camp on Thursday, July 30 with issues off the field now set to dominate once again.
UNC’s college season starts in a little over a month, against TCU on August 29.
