RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour was presented with the state’s highest honor by Gov. Roy Cooper after Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Brind’Amour received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is given to people who have made significant contributions to the state and their community.

“I went into the locker room after the game and told the players that this guy wouldn’t want me to do what I was about to do because this guy is all about his players and all about team,” Cooper said.

Cooper was in the Hurricanes’ locker room prior to the game to read the starting lineup before returning amid the postgame celebration. The 67-year-old Cooper has long been a supporter of the Hurricanes and frequently attends home games.

“What he has meant to North Carolina is extraordinary, both as a player, as a coach, as a parent, involvement in youth hockey,” Cooper said. “When you think about all of the jobs the Carolina Hurricanes have brought to North Carolina and their success. … This guy has created a culture of winning.”

Brind’Amour is in his seventh season as Carolina’s coach. He also played for 10 years in Carolina, serving as captain of the franchise’s only Stanley Cup championship team in 2006.

“It’s not about me,” Brind’Amour said. “We’ve got such a good group. I was a part of a group of great people all along.”

Cooper has previously presented the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to retired Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. Cooper said he’ll present the honor to former North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams next week.

Cooper, a Democrat, is finishing his second four-year term as governor. He was prevented from seeking reelection because of term limits.

Cooper had a suggestion for Brind’Amour, saying “Coach, it’s time to get that Stanley Cup this time.”

Carolina’s one Stanley Cup title was won with Peter Laviolette behind the bench.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bill Belichick’s decision to take the North Carolina Tar Heels job came as a shock to many around the professional and college football world.

Belichick, at 72 and one of the most highly respected former NFL head coaches, has never coached at the collegiate level. He was an assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975 before eventually winning several Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

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The decision to go to college at this juncture of his life and career left one of his former players, linebacker Tedy Bruschi, quizzical.

“What are we doing here? I mean, with Bill Belichick going to coach North Carolina. I mean, college football — there’s only one bowl game I want to see Bill Belichick coaching and that’s the Super Bowl, OK?” he said on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.” “I don’t want to see him coaching some Lawnmower Bowl in December or January. That’s just not who I am.”

“I don’t know how there wouldn’t be any interest as to where you bring a Belichick in, and he makes you immediately relevant and well-coached by who he is,” Bruschi continued. “Would he make one of these teams that needed a head coach this year an immediate contender? I mean, yes, he would. He is that good. Now, he’s not going to be on the level of six championships New England Patriots or anything like that, but your team would be competent from the get-go; and then it’s on your players.

“I can’t believe Bill Belichick won’t be in the NFL next year. … I don’t know how this happened.”

New North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick speaks to the crowd at the Dean Smith Center during halftime of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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New North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick walks on the court of the Dean Smith Center during halftime of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Belichick officially agreed to take the job last week despite checking in to see if there was interest from the New York Jets’ side about possibly coaching them, despite historical drama surrounding both parties.

Julian Edelman weighed in on the move and offered a sunnier taker.

“It’s the most surprising thing in the history of anything to me that the greatest NFL football coach is not going to be in the NFL,” the former wide receiver said on “FOX NFL Kickoff.” “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.”

“A, projecting players: I was a quarterback in college, played receiver [in the NFL]. Tom Brady was a sixth-round draft pick, became the greatest quarterback of all time. Rob Gronkowski was a second-round pick, became the greatest tight end of all time. He knows how to project players.

“B, nostalgia: Bill’s dad coached at North Carolina … he loves anything his dad was a part of, so that makes sense. And then, three, [seeing] the ‘Hoodie’ in a [Michael] Jordan Tar Heel powder blue.”

Belichick is set to replace Mack Brown as head coach. The Tar Heels are 6-6 this year and play UConn in the Fenway Bowl. Freddie Kitchens will coach the team for the game.

Julian Edelman (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images/File)

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North Carolina has gone to six consecutive bowl games. They’ve had one 10-win season since 1998.

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Bill Belichick is looking to the NFL to fill out his coaching staff at North Carolina, targeting current Raiders interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner for the same position with the Tar Heels, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.

Turner is currently working at the position with the Raiders as an interim after head coach Antonio Pierce fired coordinator Luke Getsy, quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, and offensive line coach James Cregg recently.

Prior to taking his current position, Turner worked as the Raiders’ passing game coordinator, but as the team is 2-11 entering this week, it’s likely he’s looking for a new start elsewhere.

Turner is the son of long-time NFL coach Norv Turner, and worked as the Commanders’ offensive coordinator 2020-22 and has some collegiate experience at Oregon State, Pitt, and Michigan.

He worked as offensive assistant and wide receivers coach at Pittsburgh from 2008 to 2010 and worked under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan as an offensive analyst in 2017.

Belichick has already acquired some NFL coaching and managerial talent to his new staff.

Michael Lombardi joined the North Carolina program as general manager, and Freddie Kitchens has been named tight end coach and run game coordinator for the Tar Heels.

(Rapoport)

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