Rivalry reunites Cunningham with Duke's White

DURHAM - The hiring of Bubba Cunningham as North Carolina's athletic director will reunite him with his former boss when the Tar Heels meet rival Duke.

Cunningham and Kevin White, Duke's athletic director, saw their tenures at Notre Dame overlap. Cunningham spent 15 years in Notre Dame's athletic department, rising from intern to associate athletic director, before leaving for Ball State in 2002.

White was Notre Dame's athletic director from 2000 to 2008. He called Cunningham, who comes to North Carolina from Tulsa, "a brilliant hire."

"His highly successful track record speaks volumes; however, he is even better defined by his unparalleled integrity and unabashed commitment to the student-athlete," White said in a statement. "Moreover, Bubba is extremely bright, highly competitive and inordinately passionate, which precisely is why he is nationally respected and admired. He is not only a great leader for UNC, but Bubba will be a tremendous asset to the ACC!”

Ken Tysiac