North Carolina Athletic director Bubba Cunningham’s coaching search committee is working its way through the week, completing Zoom interviews and preparing to narrow the list. While Cunningham spoke earlier this week of a second phase with upwards of 10 candidates, there is a list within the list, so to speak, that makes aspects of this winnowing process somewhat predictable.
** The vetting process through the P4 head coaching ranks is intended to determine viable candidates with genuine interest. In other words, high level candidates worth pursuing.
Enter Matt Campbell. The Iowa State head coach seems to check all the boxes on UNC’s list as a proven coach whose highlights include defensive expertise, innovative Xs and Os, toughness, strong player development, and success with less resources than much of the opposition.
We can now confirm mutual interest between Campbell and UNC. However, to be clear, there are major obstacles. He’s a Midwestern lifer, he’s reportedly turned down huge NFL and college offers during his tenure in Ames, and he’s a win away from playing in the College Football Playoff. One of the characteristics that makes him so appealing as a candidate is his commitment and loyalty to his team, which is why his focus right now is solely on Saturday's Big 12 Conference championship game. All of those factors make his attainability and the timing uncertain, if not ultimately impossible.
** Campbell’s status as a proven entity fits a recurring theme we’ve heard often that helps understand Cunningham’s preferred choice here. This is too important a hire to take a big risk, and the way to minimize risk, in theory, is to pursue those with head coaching experience and a track record of overachievement. That’s why, we’ve been told, a candidate with no or little head coaching experience would have to ‘wow’ in the interview process to climb ahead of others in the pecking order.
The other buzzword we keep hearing is “culture change.” That works in tandem with other aspects we’ve mentioned that UNC is looking for in its next coach, but is worth repeating when considering the candidate pool.
** The sources we’ve spoken with said the intended process and timeline is not just Zoom interviews during the week but also extensive talking through agents, with the goal of narrowing in on a small group of finalists and then ideally Cunningham flies out to see them after the Saturday championship games in an effort to close the deal.
** Jon Sumrall had a “great” interview, according to a source, further solidifying him as a top option in this search. The one drawback for his candidacy that has been brought up by multiple sources is his professed love for, and presumed pull to, his alma mater, Kentucky.
Other interviews we can confirm: Army’s Jeff Monken (who faces Sumrall in the AAC title game on Friday), Bill Belichick, Georgia DC Glenn Schumann, and UNC interim coach Freddie Kitchens. We expect Alabama DC Kane Wommack to interview, if he hasn’t already.
** Unless another high level option emerges during the latter stages of this process (or is being kept under wraps), Campbell and Sumrall appear to be the most likely paths for Cunningham to pursue as the weekend approaches. After that duo, a source reiterated the “culture change” priority when considering where UNC could turn next, if need be.
** One program item that needs to be recognized is what has happened, or more specifically what hasn’t happened, at the Kenan Football Center since Mack Brown’s exit. Nine days later and no major contributors have entered the transfer portal. It speaks to the players’ commitment to the University, and we’re told by multiple people around that program that it’s also a testament to the work GM Pat Suddes and OWM’s Kevin Rice have done communicating with the players as they wait for the next coach to be named. Cunningham has been involved as well, we've been told by those close to the situation, talking to both players and recruits.
** The vetting process through the P4 head coaching ranks is intended to determine viable candidates with genuine interest. In other words, high level candidates worth pursuing.
Enter Matt Campbell. The Iowa State head coach seems to check all the boxes on UNC’s list as a proven coach whose highlights include defensive expertise, innovative Xs and Os, toughness, strong player development, and success with less resources than much of the opposition.
We can now confirm mutual interest between Campbell and UNC. However, to be clear, there are major obstacles. He’s a Midwestern lifer, he’s reportedly turned down huge NFL and college offers during his tenure in Ames, and he’s a win away from playing in the College Football Playoff. One of the characteristics that makes him so appealing as a candidate is his commitment and loyalty to his team, which is why his focus right now is solely on Saturday's Big 12 Conference championship game. All of those factors make his attainability and the timing uncertain, if not ultimately impossible.
** Campbell’s status as a proven entity fits a recurring theme we’ve heard often that helps understand Cunningham’s preferred choice here. This is too important a hire to take a big risk, and the way to minimize risk, in theory, is to pursue those with head coaching experience and a track record of overachievement. That’s why, we’ve been told, a candidate with no or little head coaching experience would have to ‘wow’ in the interview process to climb ahead of others in the pecking order.
The other buzzword we keep hearing is “culture change.” That works in tandem with other aspects we’ve mentioned that UNC is looking for in its next coach, but is worth repeating when considering the candidate pool.
** The sources we’ve spoken with said the intended process and timeline is not just Zoom interviews during the week but also extensive talking through agents, with the goal of narrowing in on a small group of finalists and then ideally Cunningham flies out to see them after the Saturday championship games in an effort to close the deal.
** Jon Sumrall had a “great” interview, according to a source, further solidifying him as a top option in this search. The one drawback for his candidacy that has been brought up by multiple sources is his professed love for, and presumed pull to, his alma mater, Kentucky.
Other interviews we can confirm: Army’s Jeff Monken (who faces Sumrall in the AAC title game on Friday), Bill Belichick, Georgia DC Glenn Schumann, and UNC interim coach Freddie Kitchens. We expect Alabama DC Kane Wommack to interview, if he hasn’t already.
** Unless another high level option emerges during the latter stages of this process (or is being kept under wraps), Campbell and Sumrall appear to be the most likely paths for Cunningham to pursue as the weekend approaches. After that duo, a source reiterated the “culture change” priority when considering where UNC could turn next, if need be.
** One program item that needs to be recognized is what has happened, or more specifically what hasn’t happened, at the Kenan Football Center since Mack Brown’s exit. Nine days later and no major contributors have entered the transfer portal. It speaks to the players’ commitment to the University, and we’re told by multiple people around that program that it’s also a testament to the work GM Pat Suddes and OWM’s Kevin Rice have done communicating with the players as they wait for the next coach to be named. Cunningham has been involved as well, we've been told by those close to the situation, talking to both players and recruits.
