University of North Carolina Athletics
Meaders' Contract Will Not Be Renewed
June 11, 2019 | Track & Field
CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina will not renew the contract of Harlis Meaders, Head Coach and Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country, when it expires at the end of June, Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham announced today.
"Harlis is a great and caring Tar Heel, and I have even more respect for him today than when I hired him in 2012,'' Cunningham said. "He has been an outstanding role model to our students, a caring teammate to our staff and a great example for our alumni. We always will be proud to have him as a member of our Carolina family. However, we have not achieved the level of competitive success in our track and field program that we expect, and it is time to take the program in a new direction."
Cunningham and the department will immediately begin the search for a new coach to lead the program.
Statement from Harlis Meaders:
"I would like to thank Director Cunningham for providing me the opportunity to lead the track and field and cross country programs over the last seven years. It has truly been a labor of love to serve my alma mater.
"Over the last several years, our program has faced a number of non-traditional variables that have hindered our program's ability to reach both Director Cunningham's and my personal goals for UNC to be a top 10 program in the country and a top 3 program in the ACC. So, while I am disappointed with the decision not renew my contract, I do agree that I have not reached our common goal.
"I retain a mutual level of respect for Director Cunningham and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to lead under his direction. He has done an amazing job leading our department through some of the most challenging years that our University has ever experienced. I will continue to do everything that I can to advance our track and cross country programs and UNC. I love our kids and I love the University of North Carolina. I remain very proud to be a Tar Heel.
"Thank you to everyone that has assisted me in this labor of love. It has been amazing and I could not have accomplished any of this without your help.
"Continue to be the Better Blue."
"Harlis is a great and caring Tar Heel, and I have even more respect for him today than when I hired him in 2012,'' Cunningham said. "He has been an outstanding role model to our students, a caring teammate to our staff and a great example for our alumni. We always will be proud to have him as a member of our Carolina family. However, we have not achieved the level of competitive success in our track and field program that we expect, and it is time to take the program in a new direction."
Cunningham and the department will immediately begin the search for a new coach to lead the program.
Statement from Harlis Meaders:
"I would like to thank Director Cunningham for providing me the opportunity to lead the track and field and cross country programs over the last seven years. It has truly been a labor of love to serve my alma mater.
"Over the last several years, our program has faced a number of non-traditional variables that have hindered our program's ability to reach both Director Cunningham's and my personal goals for UNC to be a top 10 program in the country and a top 3 program in the ACC. So, while I am disappointed with the decision not renew my contract, I do agree that I have not reached our common goal.
"I retain a mutual level of respect for Director Cunningham and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to lead under his direction. He has done an amazing job leading our department through some of the most challenging years that our University has ever experienced. I will continue to do everything that I can to advance our track and cross country programs and UNC. I love our kids and I love the University of North Carolina. I remain very proud to be a Tar Heel.
"Thank you to everyone that has assisted me in this labor of love. It has been amazing and I could not have accomplished any of this without your help.
"Continue to be the Better Blue."
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