In a three-sentence statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Gardner-Webb University announced it had fired head football coach Kris McCullough, ending his tenure after just one game with the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb University announced today that Head Football Coach Kris McCullough’s contract has been terminated, effective immediately.
Pete Bennett will continue to serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The University has no additional comment at this time.
Gardner-Webb offered no explanation for McCullough’s dismissal. The dismissal comes two days after Gardner-Webb confirmed it had suspended McCullough “pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.” The university has not disclosed the nature of that investigation.
McCullough coached just one game at Gardner-Webb after coming to Boiling Springs from UT Permian Basin in December 2025. The Runnin’ Bulldogs opened the season Thursday with a 35-17 loss at Austin Peay.
From suspension to dismissal
The decision ends a rapidly developing situation that began publicly over the weekend, just days after McCullough coached his first game at Gardner-Webb.
FootballScoop first reported Sunday that Gardner-Webb was evaluating its options after what the outlet described as off-field allegations involving McCullough.
Later Sunday, FootballScoop reported that McCullough had been suspended and that Bennett, Gardner-Webb’s special teams coordinator and tight ends coach, was expected to take over as interim head coach.
Gardner-Webb confirmed the suspension Monday, saying McCullough had been suspended “pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.” The university named Bennett interim head coach and said it had no additional comment.
The situation escalated again Wednesday afternoon when ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Gardner-Webb was dismissing McCullough.
Gardner-Webb made the move official later Wednesday, announcing that McCullough’s contract had been terminated effective immediately.
The university has not disclosed the nature of its investigation or provided a reason for McCullough’s dismissal.
McCullough’s brief Gardner-Webb tenure
Gardner-Webb hired McCullough on Dec. 23, 2025, after three seasons as head coach at Division II UT Permian Basin.
McCullough arrived in Boiling Springs as one of the top rising young coaches in college football. He went 28-10 at UTPB, leading the Falcons to their first Lone Star Conference championship in 2023 and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 2023 and 2025.
UTPB went a program-best 11-2 in McCullough’s final season, reaching the Division II quarterfinals for the first time and finishing No. 3 in the final AFCA poll.
Before taking over at UTPB, McCullough went 9-3 at East Central in 2022 and led the Tigers to a Heritage Bowl victory. He had a 37-13 career record as a head coach when Gardner-Webb hired him.
His Gardner-Webb tenure ultimately lasted one game.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs opened the 2026 season Thursday with a 35-17 loss at No. 17 Austin Peay. McCullough was suspended three days later.
Pete Bennett takes over Gardner-Webb
Bennett now takes over the program for the remainder of the 2026 season.
He joined Gardner-Webb’s staff as special teams coordinator in 2024 under then-head coach Cris Reisert and remained on staff through the coaching transition to McCullough. Bennett entered this season coaching Gardner-Webb’s special teams and tight ends.
Before coming to Gardner-Webb, Bennett spent two seasons at North Carolina Central as special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach. NCCU’s special teams ranked fifth nationally in punt returns in 2023, while return specialist Brandon Codrington ranked second nationally in punt-return average.
Bennett’s coaching career also includes stops at Memphis, South Alabama, Central Arkansas and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
He played quarterback and wide receiver at North Carolina Wesleyan and earned a master’s degree in sports management from Southern Mississippi.
Bennett’s first game leading the Runnin’ Bulldogs will come Saturday when Gardner-Webb travels to Wofford.
