Latest news with #BubbaCunningham
New York Post
02-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Bill Belichick getting new UNC boss in 2026 as questions persist about future
North Carolina is making some changes at the top of its athletic program, with athletic director Bubba Cunningham moving into an advisory role following the season. Cunningham will continue his current role until the summer of 2026, when he will then transition to senior advisor to the chancellor and athletic director, according to the university. 3 Bubba Cunningham has served as UNC's Athletic Director since 2011. AP 'As part of my last contract extension, I committed to working with University leadership on a succession plan that would positively position Carolina Athletics and our 28 teams for the future,' Cunningham said. 'I appreciate the opportunity to extend my contract and enhance my role in a way that will allow me to continue to support our outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff as we transition and navigate the changing athletics landscape. I am excited for the future.' Cunningham has been UNC's director of athletics since 2011 and has led the Tar Heel programs to 24 national titles in his tenure. He, along with an advisory committee, made the decision to hire the polarizing Belichick in December with hopes to revive the program which hasn't won a bowl game since 2019. Belichick was reportedly not Cunningham's 'preferred target' in the coaching search, perhaps suggesting a disconnect between the two. 3 Bubba Cunningham brought abord Bill Belichick. AP The 73-year-old is under contract as head coach until 2029, though his buyout sits at just $1 million, paving a way for a potential UNC departure if things don't go according to plan after his first season — or if he were to be eyeing up any sort of NFL job that may arise. With Cunningham's move to a new role, Steve Newmark, the president of Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, a NASCAR team, will take over. RFK Racing is a part of the Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Newmark has been hired as executive associate athletic director and 'will report to Cunningham and initially focus his attention on strategies tied to revenue-driving initiatives, particularly related to UNC's Football and Men's and Women's Basketball programs, before transitioning to the Director of Athletics role in the summer of 2026,' according to UNC. 3 Bill Belichick next to his girlfriend Jordon Hudson. NHLI via Getty Images Cunningham was involved in some controversy earlier this year when UNC's men's basketball team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament over teams who were seemingly more deserving. He was chairman of the tournament's selection committee and had a clause in his UNC contract for monetary bonuses if the team reached the tournament — prompting an investigation brought forth by one of the snubbed tournament teams, West Virginia, into collusion.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Bill Belichick hit with UNC bombshell just two months out from his first game as coach
The University of North Carolina is set to undergo a major change for the leadership within its athletic department just a few months before Bill Belichick coaches his first football game. UNC is re-organizing its athletic department - with Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham set to move to a new position. After assuming the job in November of 2011, Cunningham is entering his final year in his current role before transitioning to a job as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Athletic Director next summer. The move was announced alongside the news that Cunningham agreed to a contract extension of two years. Replacing him will be Steve Newmark, the president of the NASCAR team Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing. RFK Racing is a division of the Fenway Sports Group - which also owns the Premier League 's Liverpool FC, MLB's Boston Red Sox, and the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. 'As part of my last contract extension, I committed to working with University leadership on a succession plan that would positively position Carolina Athletics and our 28 teams for the future,' Cunningham said in a statement. 'I appreciate the opportunity to extend my contract and enhance my role in a way that will allow me to continue to support our outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff as we transition and navigate the changing athletics landscape. I am excited for the future.' In the interim, Newmark will take on the role of Executive Associate Athletic Director - with the position reporting to Cunningham and initially focusing on strategies to generate revenue for the Tar Heels' football, men's basketball, and women's basketball teams. Cunningham came under fire earlier this year for a controversy in another role he held as the chairman of the selection committee for the 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament - also known as March Madness. He was accused of favoritism when UNC was selected as one of the last four teams to make the NCAA tournament - prompting an investigation from the West Virginia attorney general into possible collusion. Cunningham denied being a part of the decision to include the school he works for.
Washington Post
01-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Auto racing executive Steve Newmark will become North Carolina's athletic director in 2026
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham will transition next summer into a new advisory role to the school's chancellor, while hiring RFK Racing team president Steve Newmark as his eventual successor. UNC announced the moves Tuesday, which marked the official start of revenue sharing where schools can begin directly paying athletes following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement .
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UNC announces AD transition plan from Bubba Cunningham to RFK Racing president Steve Newmark in 2026
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham will transition next summer into a new advisory role to the school's chancellor, while hiring RFK Racing team president Steve Newmark as his eventual successor. UNC announced the moves Tuesday, which marked the official start of revenue sharing where schools can begin directly paying athletes following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement. Advertisement The transition includes a two-year contract extension through July 2029 for the 63-year-old Cunningham, who has served as athletic director since late 2011. He will move to advising chancellor Lee Roberts and eventually Newmark on projects tied to athletics next summer, according to the school's release. In the meantime, Newmark — who has been president of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing for 15 years — will spend the 2025-26 season working as an executive associate AD and reporting to Cunningham. The school said Newmark's initial focus will be on 'revenue-driving initiatives,' particularly tied to the school's men's basketball and football programs, before eventually taking over as AD after the sports season. Cunningham's tenure included elevating Hubert Davis to take over as men's basketball coach when Hall of Famer Roy Williams retired in April 2021, as well as the hiring of NFL coaching great Bill Belichick to take over UNC's football program in December. It also included navigating the school through a multi-year NCAA infractions case tied to academic courses popular with athletes. That case reached a no-penalty conclusion in October 2017. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
01-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
UNC announces AD transition plan from Bubba Cunningham to RFK Racing president Steve Newmark in 2026
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham will transition next summer into a new advisory role to the school's chancellor, while hiring RFK Racing team president Steve Newmark as his eventual successor. UNC announced the moves Tuesday, which marked the official start of revenue sharing where schools can begin directly paying athletes following the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement. The transition includes a two-year contract extension through July 2029 for the 63-year-old Cunningham, who has served as athletic director since late 2011. He will move to advising chancellor Lee Roberts and eventually Newmark on projects tied to athletics next summer, according to the school's release. In the meantime, Newmark — who has been president of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing for 15 years — will spend the 2025-26 season working as an executive associate AD and reporting to Cunningham. The school said Newmark's initial focus will be on 'revenue-driving initiatives,' particularly tied to the school's men's basketball and football programs, before eventually taking over as AD after the sports season. Cunningham's tenure included elevating Hubert Davis to take over as men's basketball coach when Hall of Famer Roy Williams retired in April 2021, as well as the hiring of NFL coaching great Bill Belichick to take over UNC's football program in December. It also included navigating the school through a multi-year NCAA infractions case tied to academic courses popular with athletes. That case reached a no-penalty conclusion in October 2017. ___ AP sports:
