Baddour to step down as UNC athletics director

CHAPEL HILL -- The University of North Carolina is looking for a new football coach and a new athletic director.

In the latest chaotic turn in a year-long NCAA scandal, athletic director Dick Baddour announced his resignation on Thursday in order for chancellor Holden Thorp to find a new football coach.

Baddour's announcement comes less than 18 hours after UNC announced the firing of football coach Butch Davis.

"We can't get better without making a change," Thorp said about the decision to replace Davis.

Baddour, who has been the AD for 15 years, will continue to work at UNC, at least through the university's scheduled meeting with the NCAA's Committee on Infractions on Oct. 28. Baddour did not specify when he would leave but he will be paid through the remainder of his contract, which runs through next June, Thorp said.

Thorp said he would interview interim coaching candidates today but did not name a successor for Davis.

Thorp said UNC would pay Davis an undisclosed amount for the remainder of his contract, which runs through the 2014 season. Thorp said the maximum amount UNC owes Davis is $2.7 million.

"This is going to be disruptive and expensive," Thorp said.

The NCAA began the investigation into the football program last June, originally for players accepting improper benefits from agents. The probe expanded to include academic fraud at the end of August.

Thorp said there was nothing new with the NCAA investigation but the erosion of the academic reputation of the program was the primary motivation for firing Davis, who went 28-23 in four seasons.

"I can no longer overlook the fact," Thorp said. "I cannot stand for that."

For the 2010 season, 14 players missed at least one game and seven missed the entire season — four for their involvement in the academic fraud portion of the investigation.

UNC begins practice for the 2011 season in seven days.

Baddour said the interim would be one of the assistants from Davis' staff.