Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
2w ago

UNC Extends AD Cunningham’s Contract, Names Steve Newmark as Successor

Timed to coincide with the NCAA’s new revenue-sharing era, the plan pairs Cunningham’s decade of program building with Newmark’s commercial acumen to strengthen UNC’s financial footing.

Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick shares a moment with athletic director Bubba Cunningham at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images/File Photo
Image

Overview

  • UNC extended Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham’s contract through July 2029 and will shift him to a senior advisor role to Chancellor Lee Roberts and his successor after summer 2026.
  • Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing President Steve Newmark will join UNC as executive associate athletic director for the 2025-26 season to develop revenue-driving initiatives in football and men’s basketball.
  • Newmark is slated to become UNC’s athletic director in summer 2026, completing the planned handover.
  • The timing coincides with the start of NCAA revenue sharing under a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement, opening direct athlete payments.
  • Newmark brings 15 years of leadership at RFK Racing and extensive governance experience with the SEC, Conference USA and NCAA to guide UNC through a shifting financial landscape.