Gardner-Webb University has terminated head football coach Kris McCullough effective immediately after just one game in charge, following an investigation into off-field allegations.
The North Carolina university announced on Wednesday that it had cancelled McCullough's contract, just two days after suspending him on Monday pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation. Gardner-Webb has not released further details regarding the specific nature of the inquiry.
The dismissal follows McCullough's only game in charge of the Runnin' Bulldogs, a 35-17 loss to Austin Peay on August 27. Austin Peay State University, located in Clarksville, Tennessee, competes alongside Gardner-Webb in Division I Football Championship Subdivision action. Gardner-Webb has appointed Pete Bennett as interim head coach, confirming he will remain in the role for the remainder of the season.
McCullough's termination comes amid reports of off-field issues and mounting social media speculation surrounding the program. Requests for comment submitted by the Daily Mail to Gardner-Webb were not immediately returned, while McCullough has also been contacted for comment.
Investigation and Coaching Career
McCullough, a married father of two, joined Gardner-Webb earlier this year after being announced as the new head coach in late December 2025. He has been married to his wife, Hannah, for eight years, and the couple share two children, a son named KJ and a daughter named SJ.
Gardner-Webb University is a private university located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, whose athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I FCS athletics. The university hired McCullough to revitalize its football team after his impressive three-year tenure at the University of Texas Permian Basin.
When Texas-Permian Basin hired McCullough in December 2022, he was reportedly the youngest head coach in college football. The Division II program, based in Odessa, Texas, competes in the Lone Star Conference.
During his time with Texas-Permian Basin, McCullough achieved fast success, earning 2023 national coach of the year honors after guiding the Falcons to a 10-2 record and a Lone Star Conference championship in his debut season.
Historic Coaching Milestones
Under McCullough's leadership, Texas-Permian Basin earned NCAA Division II playoff appearances in both 2023 and 2025, alongside a Heritage Bowl berth in 2024. His final season at the school in 2025 yielded a program-record 11 victories, a Division II quarterfinals appearance, and a No. 3 ranking in the final national end-of-season poll.
In 2025, McCullough reached a historic milestone by becoming only the fourth coach in college football history to win 30 games before turning 30 years old. Gardner-Webb noted at his hiring that the accomplishment placed him in an exclusive group alongside all-time football greats such as Pop Warner, the legendary coach who pioneered early college football tactics across a four-decade career.
That strong track record appealed directly to Gardner-Webb administrators when searching for a head coach. Across four full seasons as a head coach at the college level, McCullough compiled 37 career victories.
Gardner-Webb vice president and athletics director Brendan Fahey praised McCullough's background when announcing his hiring last year, pointing to his history of winning championships and developing players.
"Kris' proven track record speaks for itself, with 37 victories over four excellent seasons, two playoff appearances, and a program that has consistently competed at the highest level," Fahey said in a statement. "He has built a culture of excellence both on and off the field, developing young men who succeed at the next level."
Fahey added: "Kris' ability to recruit elite talent, develop players, and win championships makes him an ideal leader here at Gardner-Webb. We are excited to welcome Kris and his entire family into the Gardner-Webb family and couldn't be more excited about the future of Runnin' Bulldogs football with him at the helm."
With Bennett stepping in as interim head coach for the rest of the campaign, Gardner-Webb now turns its attention to navigating the remainder of its football schedule under temporary leadership.
