The Charlotte 49ers let go of their long-time Athletic Director, Mike Hill. On October 16, the University announced that Mike Hill had been relieved from his duties and is no longer with the program. The 49ers revealed that the decision was made in commitment to evolving with changes and long-term success, ensuring that the program remains competitive and sustainable. One of the potential reasons for his release is believed to be the poor football performance, as the decision followed after the 49ers’ 1-5 start to the 2025 season under the first-year coach Tim Albin. Mike Hill has now released a statement about his firing. 

“It has been an absolute joy for me and my family to be a part of Niner Nation,” Mike Hill said in his public statement. “I am forever grateful to Phil Dubois for the opportunity to lead this program and to Sharon Gaber, who leads the university with such vision and strength. Thank you to our coaches, student-athletes, and staff who work so tirelessly to represent Charlotte with pride and class. I truly miss you. We will be joining our incredible fans in cheering you on and celebrating many championships to come.”

In 2018, Hill was hired as the Athletic Director of the Charlotte 49ers after spending 25 years as staff at the Florida Gators. In the seven years with UNC Charlotte, he was pivotal in the program’s national recognition. In 2023, Hill played an integral role in moving the 49ers from Conference USA to the American Conference. In their first season, the program recorded six conference championships across different sports programs. This big move resulted in a four-year contract extension with the program from June 2024 through June 2030, with a base salary of $420K and a buyout of $2.2M.

Hill also hired three out of four coaches in his seven-year tenure, including Will Healy, Biff Poggy, and the current coach, Tim Albin. Healy had a 7-6 debut season in 2018, but only had eight wins in the next three seasons and was fired after a 1-7 start to the 2022 season. Biff Poggi was hired in 2023 with high hopes but was fired with a 6-16 record in November 2024. As the 49ers under Tim Albin also have a poor start to the season with a 1-5 record, Mike Hill’s dismissal came into effect, ending his tenure with a 26-47 record.

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber Shares Key Details of Mike Hill’s Release

After the big announcement, Charlotte’s Chancellor Sharon Gaber spoke with Hunter Bailey, addressing the key details behind the release. She revealed that they do not have a specific timeline for hiring the new Athletic Director. Until then, the vice chancellor for institutional integrity and general counsel, Jesh Humphrey, will oversee the department.

Although they are not in a hurry to hire a new AD, they have a set of expectations. “We’ll be looking for someone who understands the evolving landscape of college athletics.” Gaber said, “Particularly in areas like NIL, student-athlete experience, and financial sustainability, who can continue to strengthen our programs and community engagement.”

Since the 49ers barely had any big seasons under Mike Hill in recent times, Bailey asked Gaber if the decision was made with respect to the football performance. The Chancellor responded, “No, this decision was not driven by the performance of any specific team. It was based on broader strategic considerations related to the overall direction and competitiveness of our athletics enterprise in a rapidly changing environment.”