Overview
- Gardner-Webb suspended McCullough on Monday, Aug. 31, and multiple outlets reported his dismissal on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
- Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Pete Bennett has been named interim head coach and is leading the program into its Sept. 5 road game at Wofford.
- The university has given no public details about the investigation and has not confirmed the specific allegations reported by media as off-field issues.
- McCullough was hired on Dec. 23, 2025 after three successful seasons at Division II Texas-Permian Basin and coached Gardner-Webb’s 35-17 season-opening loss at Austin Peay.
- The abrupt change creates short-term instability for game preparation and recruiting, and the program’s next steps will hinge on any formal findings or further statements from the school.