The attorney for Michael Lombardi, a key figure in North Carolina's football program under coach Bill Belichick, has characterized the ongoing investigation into his client as a "witch hunt."
Lombardi, the football program's general manager, was placed on administrative leave in July pending an investigation into a human resources complaint filed by a former employee. His salary of $1.5 million reportedly makes him the highest-paid general manager in the NCAA, a position created in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era.
Tom Mars, Lombardi's attorney, told The Athletic that if the university had sufficient grounds to terminate Lombardi for cause, such a drawn-out and extensive investigation would not be necessary. "If UNC had grounds to fire Michael for cause, they wouldn’t need to conduct such a far-ranging, lengthy witch hunt," Mars stated. "They would have done so by now."
Mars suggested that the motives behind the investigation extend beyond Lombardi's substantial salary and potential buyout, implying other, undisclosed reasons are driving the probe. "In today’s world, $1.5 million is just a drop in the bucket, so there must be other reasons behind this multimillion-dollar investigation," he added.
Reports from ESPN indicate that within the program, Lombardi has been labeled "the most hated man in the building." Allegations against him include bullying subordinates, disregarding compliance guidelines, and conducting staff surveillance, practices reportedly carried over from his time with the New England Patriots under Belichick.
Lombardi's attorney stated that his client is cooperating fully with the investigation and anticipates it will be "swift, thorough and fair." The North Carolina program and Lombardi are reportedly being examined by the newly formed College Sports Commission, an oversight body for college athlete compensation.
Mars also noted that Lombardi has not been presented with any documentation suggesting he has engaged in wrongdoing. Lombardi's previous roles include director of player personnel for the Cleveland Browns (1992-1995) and assistant to the coaching staff for the New England Patriots (2014-2016).