A New Jersey woman in the midst of a heated divorce says New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick still gives her piles of money – even while he’s dating another blond divorcée.
Sharon Shenocca, 41, testified last week in Superior Court in Morristown that the 55-year-old football guru has FedExed her at least $150,000 in cash, paid for lavish vacations, and is now renovating a $2.2 million Brooklyn town house he bought for her to live in with her kids.
Shenocca gave no reason for the coach’s largesse other than his “generosity.”
Sharon met Belichick while they both were working for the New York Giants – he as an assistant coach, and she as a receptionist. Neither is still with the organization, but their intense relationship came to light after Shenocca and her husband split last year.
But why he finances a fancy lifestyle for Shenocca, a stay-at-home mom, remains “a huge mystery” at the center of the current custody battle between Shenocca and her husband, one courtroom observer said. “It’s baffling.”
Vincent Shenocca, a stucco contractor, has accused his wife of committing adultery with Belichick, a divorced father of three. Sharon has never admitted an affair, calling her generous pal a “family friend.”
The alleged affair has not come up in their current custody battle – possibly because the Shenoccas reached a financial settlement in their divorce.
After Sharon confessed in testimony that she lied in denying that Belichick was secretly sending her money and gifts, Vincent dropped the issue of whether Belichick bedded his wife.
Now in dispute in the custody trial is whether Sharon can move their two children, ages 8 and 6, into Belichick’s Park Slope pad, and enroll them in Brooklyn schools. Vincent wants to keep them at home with him in New Jersey.
As for paying Belichick rent or expenses, Sharon told the court, “I’ve been assured I won’t have to worry about it.”
Midway through the trial last month, Belichick flew Sharon, her kids, sister and brother-in-law on a private Marquis jet to Key Biscayne, Fla., and paid for their nine-day stay at the Ritz-Carlton resort.
Belichick has already plunked down about $22,000 for her Jersey Shore rental home this summer, like he did last year, she said.
She said she hopes to repay Belichick for his “loans” someday and denied feeling any shame for mooching off him.
“I’m fine with it,” she said.
Yet Sharon acknowledged that Belichick is, as her husband’s lawyer, Edward O’Donnell, put it, “involved with another woman,” Linda Holliday.
Holliday, 43, a mother of two teens who is divorcing her third husband, has been seen with Belichick. She was on his arm last week at Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People gala at Columbus Circle. The couple shared a table with Mayor Bloomberg.
“They just started seeing each other. They’ve had a few dates,” Sharon told the court.
“How does Linda feel about you living in the [Park Slope] house?” O’Donnell asked.
“We didn’t talk about it,” Sharon replied.
Belichick did not return a message seeking comment.