UNC Assistant Coach Armond Hawkins Suspended

North Carolina cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins has been suspended, multiple sources close to the program have confirmed. The suspension regards improper extra benefits allegations, specifically his involvement in player family members getting game sideline passes, the source said. The story was first reported by Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

Hawkins is in his first year with the UNC program, hired by Bill Belichick last offseason from Washington. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native has been heavily focused on recruiting the West Coast for the Tar Heels since his arrival, including recruiting his brother — former UCLA defensive back Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins — to transfer to UNC.

Hawkins was a secondary analyst and assistant director of recruiting last season for the Huskies, coaching with Bill’s son, Steve, who is now UNC’s defensive coordinator.

UNC signed four players from Washington out of the transfer portal: linebacker Khmori House, cornerback Thaddeus Dixon, wide receiver Jason Robinson, and safety Peyton Waters.

Hawkins’ prior stops were Arizona (assistant director of recruiting and defensive analyst, 2023), Colorado (assistant director of high school relations, 2022), and USC (director of high school relations, 2020-22).

He played defensive back at Idaho, graduating in 2017.