BamaDude06
10-22-2006, 08:53 PM
Bunting out as UNC coach; will stay through seasonAssociated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. -- John Bunting is out as North Carolina's football coach but will remain with the Tar Heels through the rest of this season, school officials said Sunday night.
Bunting met with athletic director Dick Baddour earlier in the day and was told he would not return next season. The players were informed of the decision during an evening meeting.
Bunting, a former linebacker at North Carolina, was largely blamed for the Tar Heels' miserable season.
North Carolina (1-6, 0-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) is 0-6 against Division I-A teams this season and was coming off a 23-0 loss at struggling Virginia. Statistically, the Tar Heels also rank among the worst offenses and defenses in I-A.
Bunting has three years remaining on his contract, which pays $286,200 annually. He is 25-42 in six seasons at North Carolina and has an overall record of 63-56-2 in 11 seasons.
"Changing coaches is never a pleasant experience, but it is even more difficult when you consider the character and integrity of someone like John Bunting," Baddour said in a statement released by the school.
The move came a week after Bunting defended the direction of his program, saying the Tar Heels' future was bright because of intangibles like recruiting, discipline and preserving redshirt seasons for young, promising players.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2635454
RALEIGH, N.C. -- John Bunting is out as North Carolina's football coach but will remain with the Tar Heels through the rest of this season, school officials said Sunday night.
Bunting met with athletic director Dick Baddour earlier in the day and was told he would not return next season. The players were informed of the decision during an evening meeting.
Bunting, a former linebacker at North Carolina, was largely blamed for the Tar Heels' miserable season.
North Carolina (1-6, 0-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) is 0-6 against Division I-A teams this season and was coming off a 23-0 loss at struggling Virginia. Statistically, the Tar Heels also rank among the worst offenses and defenses in I-A.
Bunting has three years remaining on his contract, which pays $286,200 annually. He is 25-42 in six seasons at North Carolina and has an overall record of 63-56-2 in 11 seasons.
"Changing coaches is never a pleasant experience, but it is even more difficult when you consider the character and integrity of someone like John Bunting," Baddour said in a statement released by the school.
The move came a week after Bunting defended the direction of his program, saying the Tar Heels' future was bright because of intangibles like recruiting, discipline and preserving redshirt seasons for young, promising players.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2635454