North Carolina announces succession plan for Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham

The world of college athletics changes by the day. The University of North Carolina is well-aware of that, as they are doing everything in their power to adapt to the changes, ensuring future success for all its athletic teams.

On Tuesday, the university announced some major news, as Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham's contract has been extended by two years through July 2029.

But wait, there's a catch.

Cunningham will remain in his current role until the summer of 2026 before transitioning to Senior Advisor to the Chancellor and Athletic Director. This is a new position, one where he will report directly to Chancellor Lee H. Roberts, will allow Cunningham to focus his vast expertise on transformational University projects, with the main objective being to set the University of North Carolina Athletics up for future success.

To help the university further adapt to the needs that revenue sharing and NIL present, North Carolina also announced that they have hired Steve Newmark, the current Roush Fenway Keslowski (RFK) Racing President. Newmark will report directly to Cunningham, focusing on revenue-driving initiatives (most notably for the UNC football, men's basketball and women's basketball programs) before he transitions into the Director of Athletics role next summer.

In the official press release from Go Heels, Cunningham indicated that a succession plan was something he and the university have discussed in the past, most notably during his last contract extension negotiations:

"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. 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." 

The University of North Carolina achieved tremendous success during Cunningham's tenure. The Tar Heels have won 24 national titles and earned 11 top-10 Learfield Directors Cup finishes during this span, as he has been a significant asset for the university in a variety of ways.

Times are everchanging in the world of college athletics, and once again, North Carolina is on top of things. While this transition will be different, it's great to see that Cunningham will still very much be involved at least for the next couple of years, helping the university transition smoothly to this new era.