The University of North Carolina is set for a major shift in its athletic leadership. Bubba Cunningham, who has led UNC’s athletic department since 2011, will transition out of his role in summer 2026 and into a senior advisory position.
His replacement, Steve Newmark, now president of RFK Racing, will step in as executive associate athletic director before assuming full leadership.
Bubba Cunningham To Step Aside in 2026, Newmark Named Successor
The University of North Carolina has announced a leadership change in its athletic department. Cunningham, the longtime athletic director, will transition into a senior advisory role in summer 2026.
Cunningham, who began his tenure in November 2011, has overseen a period of success, including 24 national championships and 11 Top 10 finishes in the Learfield Directors’ Cup. UNC tied its best finish in 16 years by placing fourth in the 2024-25 standings.
Newmark, president of RFK Racing and a Chapel Hill native, has been selected to take over the department. He will join UNC this year as executive associate athletic director before assuming full responsibilities in 2026.
“We have a guy coming in who has connections to the college space, connections to Carolina, but isn’t deeply involved in it,” Cunningham said on the Carolina Insider podcast.
“For the next year, I can mentor him on, what does intercollegiate athletics look like today? Where do I think it’s headed? What does Carolina look like? Where does the Rams Club fit? Where do all the other entities fit? And then, have him share with us where he thinks he can add the most value,” Cunningham continued.
🚨: #UNC Announces Athletic Director Transition — Steve Newmark to Take Over for Bubba Cunningham in 2026. pic.twitter.com/2b0lluR7hW
— UNC Zone (@unc_zone) July 2, 2025
Cunningham highlighted revenue generation as a key area where Newmark will contribute. He will work closely with Deputy AD Rick Barakat, who leads UNC’s efforts in funding high-level athletic investments.
“Rick Barakat has come in as our Deputy AD for revenue generation – he’s our chief revenue officer. So he’s been in the trenches already,” Cunningham said. “Steve will work directly with him and get his mind around that.”
Newmark’s onboarding will also involve collaboration with UNC’s general managers in football, basketball, baseball, and women’s basketball as part of his integration into the college model. Cunningham emphasized the importance of blending Newmark’s commercial experience with UNC’s academic mission.
“It’s a lot of mentoring for me with Steve on the college side and a lot of Steve putting his touches on the professionalism, the commercialization of what we do,” Cunningham said.
“All of the coaches – the reporting relationships, everything – will remain the same,” he added.
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Newmark expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity.
“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,” Newmark said.
Before his motorsports work, Newmark was a partner at the Charlotte-based law firm Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, where he worked with the SEC, Conference USA, and the NCAA. He also served on the advisory committee that contributed to the hiring of NFL coach Bill Belichick.
