Just two months into his time as the Washington Huskies’ defensive coordinator, Steve Belichick has shown a lot of personality. After an appearance on the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long, the former New England Patriots staffer went viral during his first press conference when he was asked how he was different from his father, eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick.
“I have a job and he doesn’t, and he knows it,” Belichick told members of the media during a luncheon on Wednesday.
While that comment alone displays a vast difference from his father, he also has to take on a new challenge coming to college after spending 12 seasons with the Patriots. Recruiting is a key part of sustained success at the college level, therefore it’s a large part of every coach’s job, which Belichick said he is aware of, but still adjusting to.
“FaceTiming high school kids has been new,” Belichick said. “It didn’t feel natural at first, but I can talk to people so once I got over the mental block of doing that, I started getting the hang of it.”
Washington defensive coordinator Steve Belichick says the main difference between him and his father Bill is "I have a job and he doesn't"
— alex katson 🇯🇵 (@alexkatson) March 27, 2024
Recruits seem to agree, as four-star linebacker Christian Thatcher claimed he was the first player Belichick called, and seemed to enjoy the defensive coordinator’s sense of humor.
“It was a really funny conversation,” Thatcher said. “He started with ‘I guess I have to ask you how school is and all that.’ We have hit it off really well and I can’t wait to meet him in person.”
Belichick appears to be a very promising hire for Jedd Fisch’s coaching staff, as he’s bringing one of the best defensive schemes from the NFL with him and if he can prove that he can help bring in top tier recruits too, he could quickly establish himself as one of the best defensive coordinators in the Big Ten.