Belichick denies he is looking for exit strategy after stumbling UNC start

• Reports have said coach wants out of UNC contract

• Tar Heels have lost three of first five games this season

Bill Belichick has denied reports that he has been considering an exit strategy from his role as North Carolina's head coach.

Some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that, it's just categorically false," Belichick said on Monday during his first public comments since a blowout loss to Clemson at the start of the month. Glad I'm here. Working toward our goals and the process."

During the second of two off weeks in a three-week span, the subject of Belichick's status and future with the Tar Heels was a hot topic, so much so that last Wednesday the university released brief statements from the coach and athletics director Bubba Cunningham reaffirming commitments between Belichick and the school. Reports had said the 73-year-old wanted to return to the NFL as a coach or in the media.