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Fox News
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Bill Belichick Getting New Boss And He's Coming From NASCAR
Bill Belichick — assuming he sticks around as head football coach of the University of North Carolina for more than a year — will have a new boss in 2026. Steve Newmark, who has spent the last 15 years at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, will assume the UNC athletics director role from Bubba Cunningham in summer 2026. He will leave his role as RFK team president and join the UNC athletics department on Aug. 15 as executive associate athletics director. Newmark, a native of Chapel Hill, was on the advisory committee that hired Belichick in the offseason and also on the advisory committee for the hiring of the Rams Club executive director. "Like many passionate Tar Heel fans, avidly following UNC Athletics has represented a special and unique bond with my family and friends since childhood, and I recognize the role it serves for the university, alumni, community and broader fan base," Newmark said in a statement. "I look forward to working with Bubba and the entire Tar Heel Nation to continue to elevate UNC's status as a premier brand in college sports with top-tier programs across the board and with student-athletes who represent North Carolina's flagship institution with class, on and off their respective playing fields." Cunningham will move into a new role next year as senior advisor to the chancellor and athletic director. He has been athletics director since 2011. Newmark has been in his RFK role for a tad longer, taking over as team president in 2010. Previously a lawyer in Charlotte, Newmark worked extensively with the Southeastern Conference, Conference USA and the NCAA. RFK Racing currently fields three cars in NASCAR's top division, with drivers Brad Keselowski (also a co-owner of the team along with the Fenway Sports Group and Jack Roush), Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece. NASCAR teams rely on corporate sponsorships, and Newmark's experience in landing and managing sponsorship deals is expected to relate well to the current NIL landscape of college athletics. "Bubba is a national leader in his field, and his vision and dedication have helped Carolina Athletics reach new heights while navigating an unprecedented era," UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said in a statement. "We are excited to build on that success by incorporating Steve's deep experience with strategic partnerships and sponsorships to build an even brighter future for Carolina Athletics." Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
Fox Sports
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Bill Belichick Getting New Boss And He's Coming From NASCAR
Bill Belichick — assuming he sticks around as head football coach of the University of North Carolina for more than a year — will have a new boss in 2026. Steve Newmark, who has spent the last 15 years at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, will assume the UNC athletics director role from Bubba Cunningham in summer 2026. He will leave his role as RFK team president and join the UNC athletics department on Aug. 15 as executive associate athletics director. Newmark, a native of Chapel Hill, was on the advisory committee that hired Belichick in the offseason and also on the advisory committee for the hiring of the Rams Club executive director. "Like many passionate Tar Heel fans, avidly following UNC Athletics has represented a special and unique bond with my family and friends since childhood, and I recognize the role it serves for the university, alumni, community and broader fan base," Newmark said in a statement. "I look forward to working with Bubba and the entire Tar Heel Nation to continue to elevate UNC's status as a premier brand in college sports with top-tier programs across the board and with student-athletes who represent North Carolina's flagship institution with class, on and off their respective playing fields." Cunningham will move into a new role next year as senior advisor to the chancellor and athletic director. He has been athletics director since 2011. Newmark has been in his RFK role for a tad longer, taking over as team president in 2010. Previously a lawyer in Charlotte, Newmark worked extensively with the Southeastern Conference, Conference USA and the NCAA. RFK Racing currently fields three cars in NASCAR's top division, with drivers Brad Keselowski (also a co-owner of the team along with the Fenway Sports Group and Jack Roush), Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece. NASCAR teams rely on corporate sponsorships, and Newmark's experience in landing and managing sponsorship deals is expected to relate well to the current NIL landscape of college athletics. "Bubba is a national leader in his field, and his vision and dedication have helped Carolina Athletics reach new heights while navigating an unprecedented era," UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts said in a statement. "We are excited to build on that success by incorporating Steve's deep experience with strategic partnerships and sponsorships to build an even brighter future for Carolina Athletics." Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. recommended Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
San Francisco Chronicle
01-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
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. "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 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. UNC's announcement touted Newmark's experience in sponsorships, marketing and contract negotiations — coming at a time of landscape-altering changes to college athletics with the arrival of revenue sharing. Newmark will start his first role Aug. 15. 'Like many passionate Tar Heel fans, avidly following UNC Athletics has represented a special and unique bond with my family and friends since childhood, and I recognize the role it serves for the University, alumni, community and broader fanbase,' Newmark said in a statement. 'I look forward to working with Bubba and the entire Tar Heel Nation to continue to elevate UNC's status as a premier brand in college sports with top-tier programs across the board, and with student-athletes who represent North Carolina's flagship institution with class on and off their respective playing fields. With collegiate athletics undergoing massive changes at all levels, UNC is well positioned to take advantage of the new landscape.' Newmark is a Chapel Hill native with multiple ties to the school, including serving on an advisory committee in the hiring of six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick as football coach in December. He is also part of the advisory committee in the Rams Club's search for a new executive director. Before joining RFK Racing, Newmark was a partner in a Charlotte-based law firm and specialized in sports and entertainment, including work with the NCAA, Southeastern Conference and Conference USA, UNC said in its release. 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 Belichick's hiring. 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. The school also won often. Eight different programs combined for 24 of the school's 63 national championships in Cunningham's tenure, while the school also had 22 individual national titles across seven sports.
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC basketball player makes key decision for future, declares for NBA Draft
UNC basketball player makes key decision for future, declares for NBA Draft Drake Powell has made a decision on his future. The North Carolina Tar Heels are still trying to put together their roster for the 2025-26 college basketball season as they have a few holes to fill. And on Wednesday, they received an important decision from a key player. After just one season with the Tar Heels, wing Drake Powell is entering the 2025 NBA Draft, he announced via social media and On3. Powell told On3 that his focus is 100% on the draft. He posted this message as well: "Tar Heel Nation, thank you for embracing and supporting me through the highs and lows of the past season," Powell said in a statement. "I have learned so much both on and off the court. I was born and bred a Tar Heel, and to have the opportunity to put on that uniform, run through that tunnel, and compete for the University that I love is a feeling that is unmatched and I'll never take that for granted. "To my teammates and brothers, I just want to say thank you for all the amazing memories we've made together during our journey. I'll hold onto these moments forever. "However, competing at the highest level has always been the ultimate goal. This decision was nowhere near easy, but with the support and guidance of my family and coaches, I will be entering my name into the 2025 NBA Draft." The former five-star recruit spent just one season at North Carolina where he averaged 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He appeared in 37 games and stated in 24 of those games. Powell saw his stock climb throughout the year as he hit first-round potential in some mock drafts. As of now, he appears to be a fringe first-round pick but will have the chance to work out for teams through the pre-draft process. For North Carolina, they now have a hole to fill on the roster to replace Powell's production. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
