UNC’s mess with Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson might not be AD Bubba Cunningham’s problem much longer
Context:
There is an ongoing controversy at the University of North Carolina involving head football coach Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson, who manages his personal branding but is not a university employee. Conflicting reports have emerged about Hudson being banned from the university's football facilities, which has been denied by some sources. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who reportedly did not support Belichick's hiring, might soon leave UNC, as he is a candidate for the athletic director position at Michigan State. Cunningham has a contract clause allowing him to exit UNC without penalty, potentially avoiding the current turmoil. Additionally, Belichick's contract buyout will significantly decrease soon, raising the possibility of both him and Cunningham leaving their positions at UNC shortly.
Dive Deeper:
There are conflicting reports regarding Jordon Hudson's presence at UNC's football facilities, with some claiming she was banned, while others refute this, stating she handles personal branding for Coach Belichick.
Bubba Cunningham, UNC's athletic director, did not initially favor hiring Bill Belichick and may soon leave UNC for a similar role at Michigan State, as he is a top candidate for the position.
Cunningham's contract includes a clause allowing him to leave with 120 days' notice without penalty, which could enable him to escape the ongoing complications involving Belichick.
Belichick's contract buyout will drop dramatically from $10 million to $1 million soon, which could facilitate his departure from the university amid the current issues.
The Belichick-Hudson saga has been a source of disruption at UNC, with Cunningham possibly viewing the opportunity at Michigan State as a chance to distance himself from this situation.
There were conflicting reports Friday regarding the ongoing involvement of Jordon Hudson — the girlfriend, manager, and publicist of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick.
According to a report from Pablo Torre, Hudson was said to be banned from UNC’s football facilities and field. However, Tar Heel Illustrated later refuted those claims.
“Of course she’s not banned from the facility,” a source told THI. The source added that Hudson is “in charge of personal branding for Belichick” but “is not a university employee.”
This is just the latest chapter in the ongoing Belichick-Hudson saga that continues to create complications for UNC — and for athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who reportedly didn’t want Belichick hired in the first place.
MORE: UNC’s Bill Belichick handed urgent plan to fix public image, including ditching Jordon Hudson
“The UNC AD preferred to go younger after he fired 73-year-old Mack Brown following a 44–33 record in six seasons in Chapel Hill,” CBS Sports’ John Talty wrote.
Cunningham may not have to deal with the situation much longer.
Michigan State recently parted ways with athletic director Alan Haller, and according to The Detroit Free Press’ Chris Solari, Cunningham is considered a top candidate to replace him.
“A native of Flint and graduate of Notre Dame, Cunningham has been athletic director at North Carolina since late 2011 and worked alongside Guskiewicz when he was chancellor in Chapel Hill,” Solari wrote. “Having the ongoing saga with Bill Belichick as the Tar Heels’ new football coach foisted upon his leadership, Cunningham has a clause in his contract that runs through June 30, 2027, which allows him to give notice in writing with 120 days' notice to leave at any time without reason or financial penalty. Cunningham, the 2019–20 AD of the Year at UNC, also headed athletic programs at Ball State and Tulsa prior to his current job.”
Given everything that’s transpired since Belichick’s arrival in December, Cunningham may view this as an ideal opportunity to step away from a situation he never wanted in the first place.
What adds even more intrigue: Belichick’s contract buyout drops from $10 million to $1 million in less than a month. Given the circumstances, it’s not out of the question that either Belichick, Cunningham — or both — could be on their way out of Chapel Hill soon.