UNC says Bill Belichick's girlfriend still welcome at school - ESPN

The University of North Carolina issued a statement Friday saying Bill Belichick's girlfriend is a welcome guest at football facilities after reports she'd been banned by the school.

Jordan Hudson, the 24-year-old girlfriend of the Tar Heels' 73-year-old coach, has gained notoriety for her hands-on approach to Belichick's media presence and branding, including a back-and-forth during an interview with CBS two weeks ago. But North Carolina made it clear her role as Belichick's de facto publicist has not impacted her access to the football program.

«While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities,» the school said in the statement. «Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick's personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.»

On Friday, podcast host Pablo Torre revealed interviews with numerous sources «close to Belichick's family» to detail the controversial relationship between the UNC coach and Hudson, including claims she'd been banned from university facilities.

On the podcast, Torre also said sources close to Belichick were «worried» Hudson would diminish the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach's legacy.

In an April interview with CBS Morning News to promote his new book, «The Art of Winning,» Belichick was asked about how his relationship with Hudson began. Hudson, off camera, intervened, saying the coach would not be discussing personal matters.

After that exchange became public, Belichick released a statement chastising CBS for breaking an agreement that the interview would only be about football.

«Unfortunately, that expectation was not honored during the