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. 

“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.

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.

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.