The University of North Carolina (UNC) has announced a leadership transition in its athletics department. Bubba Cunningham, who has served as UNC's athletic director since 2011, will step down from the role in the summer of 2026 but will remain with the university as a senior advisor under a two-year contract extension through July 2029. To succeed Cunningham, UNC has hired Steve Newmark, the president of Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing, as its new Executive Associate Athletic Director. Newmark, who has led RFK Racing for 15 years, will join UNC in August 2025 and will transition to the Director of Athletics position in the summer of 2026. This move marks Newmark's departure from the NASCAR team to collegiate athletics administration. The transition has been confirmed by both UNC Athletics and RFK Racing, with Newmark's appointment intended to ensure continuity in the university's athletic leadership.