WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Sources: Davis Close To Accepting UNC Job

Nov 5, 2006

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — There is heightened speculation that former NFL coach Butch Davis might become UNC's next football coach.

Several Internet outlets are reporting that contract talks between Davis and UNC are in the later stages of contract negotiations.

During the Tar Heels' matchup with Notre Dame Saturday afternoon, NBC Sports attempted to confirm these reports, but UNC officials declined to comment.

Davis coached Miami back to national prominence in the mid-1990s after the school was hit by NCAA sanctions. Davis also coached the Cleveland Browns for three years. He has not coached since 2003, but said recently he plans to return to coaching.

Sources tell WRAL they believe Davis has taken the UNC job. But sources close to Davis said he has made no such commitment at this point and is investigating other options.

Carolina's athletic program has a history of near misses in coaching vacancies. In 1997, Carolina courted Jim Donnan to replace Mack Brown. At the last minute, Donnan declined and Carl Torbush was hired.

In 2000, most Tar Heel supporters thought Roy Williams would return as basketball coach. He decided then to stay and Kansas and Matt Doherty was brought in. He was replaced by Williams three years later.

In 2001, UNC tried to hire Frank Beamer for the head football coaching position after Torbush was ousted. That plan fell through, leading to the selection of John Bunting. Bunting was fired from the head coaching position almost two weeks ago.