CHAPEL HILL — University of North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour announced this morning that he has asked university chancellor Holden Thorp to begin a search for a new AD "as soon as possible."
Baddour who is in the final year of a three-year contract extension with the university, said it was imperative that his successor be able to name new football coach for the Tar Heels program.
Baddour's announcement at this morning's news conference at the Friday Center came a day after Thorp announced his decision to dismiss football coach Butch Davis, citing the damage to the university's reputation caused by the ongoing NCAA investigation of the Tar Heels program.
"I've given my heart and soul for 45 years to UNC," Baddour said. "Better days are ahead."
An interim coach for the program has not been named, and the university may end up owing as much as $2.7 million to Davis for his dismissal, Thorp said.
Asked if Davis was fired in an attempt to soften potential NCAA sanctions against the university, Thorp said, "absolutely not."
Assistant sports editor Lorenzo Perez has bounced back-and-forth between The News & Observer's news and sports department several times since joining the newspaper in 1999. His latest assignment has him working with The N&O's ACC writers and online news. E-mail
Comments
take the fall like a man Dick
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 14:59 — Hockeydad92This knida of stuff follows Butch around wherever he goes so it really is on Dick to take the fall for this. He knew from day one that within a few years his football program under Davis had just as good a chance to be ranked in the top 10 in the nation as it did to find itself on NCAA probation. It was a 50/50 shot and he lost...
Nice man. Terrible AD.
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 13:20 — lrollinsNice man. Terrible AD. Should have stepped down a long time ago. Thorpe should be placed on probation.
Dick Baddour
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 12:56 — johngAt his age, I think Dickie is doing what is right for the program. He wouldn't be there that much longer anyhow. I just wish he would take Holden with him. There is absolutely no excuse for taking a year to make to make a decision. Holden is not the man to lead our school if he is that wishy-washy.
Listening to him talk....
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 12:01 — UNC1998you could tell he was emotional about this. I feel for Baddour. I know there are plenty of folks who have dismissed him as ineffective previously. I even had doubt about his abilities with regard to hiring coaches. One thing I've never doubted about him is his devotion to UNC. You could certainly see he was affected by the proceedings today. The fact is I'm sure this isn't how he envisioned his tenure as UNC's AD ending. I'd like to send Mr. Baddour a sincere thank you for all of his hard work.
I'd also like to add I think it crucially important who UNC finds to be the next AD. It will have a drastic effect on the athletic department going forward. Thorp just better not bonk. I don't care if he played on Jeopardy, solved a Rubik's Cube in 4 minutes, or does calculus in his head...... He better not mess this up.
UNC screwed Baddour. After
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 12:20 — danofncUNC screwed Baddour.
After 45 years, he deserved a better ending to his time there than to be the shiny object in this press conference.