Winning in Boiling Springs isn't just about the playbook. It's about the dirt, the tradition, and lately, a revolving door of high-level talent on the sidelines. If you haven't been paying attention to Gardner Webb football coaches over the last few seasons, you've missed a masterclass in program-building—and the anxiety that comes when bigger schools start poaching your leaders.
Right now, the buzz is all about Kris McCullough. He just took the reins in January 2026. He’s 30 years old. Think about that for a second. While most people that age are still figuring out their career path, McCullough has already won 37 games as a head coach. He’s the fourth coach in the history of college football to hit 30 wins before his 30th birthday.
Basically, he’s a unicorn.
The unexpected arrival of Kris McCullough
When Gardner-Webb University announced Kris McCullough as the new head coach on January 6, 2026, it felt like a statement. They weren't just looking for a "safe" hire. They went out and grabbed the winningest coach in UT Permian Basin history.
McCullough is bringing a high-octane philosophy to Spangler Stadium. At UTPB, his offense was basically a cheat code. In 2025, his team ranked first in NCAA Division II in total passing yards and fourth in total yards overall. Honestly, it’s the kind of wide-open football that fans in Boiling Springs have been craving since the Tre Lamb era ended.
His staff is already taking shape for the 2026 season. You’ve got Kenneth Hrncir coming in as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach. Jake Shaw is handling the defense. It’s a young, aggressive group. They aren't here to rebuild; they're here to win the OVC-Big South title immediately.
Why Cris Reisert walked away
To understand where the program is going, you have to look at what just happened. Cris Reisert stepped down in December 2025. It caught a lot of people off guard. He had just finished a 7-5 season, which was a significant jump from his 4-8 debut in 2024.
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He didn't leave because he failed. He left because he was good.
Reisert took the Offensive Coordinator job at Toledo. It’s a classic case of a coach using a successful stint at the FCS level to jump back into a high-level FBS role. During his short time, he stabilized the Runnin' Bulldogs. He coached up guys like tight end Camden Overton and linebacker Trevor Moffitt. He proved that Gardner-Webb could compete in the newly formed OVC-Big South Football Association.
But football is a business. When the MAC comes calling with FBS resources, it's hard to say no.
The Tre Lamb effect and the "Coaching Factory" reputation
Before Reisert, there was Tre Lamb. If you want to know why Gardner-Webb is suddenly a destination for elite young coaches, look at Lamb’s tenure from 2020 to 2023.
Lamb was a lightning bolt. He led the program to its first conference championship in nearly two decades. He won the school’s first-ever FCS Playoff game against Eastern Kentucky. When he left for East Tennessee State (ETSU), he left a blueprint.
He showed that you could recruit elite talent to a small school in North Carolina and beat the big boys. Under Lamb, Ty French became a defensive terror, winning Big South Defensive Player of the Year. Bailey Fisher was lighting up scoreboards as the Offensive Player of the Year.
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This success created a pattern. Gardner-Webb has become a "launchpad" for coaching careers.
- Tre Lamb: Won a title, moved to ETSU.
- Cris Reisert: Improved the record, moved to the FBS (Toledo).
- Kris McCullough: Arrives as a proven winner with a massive ceiling.
It’s a double-edged sword for the fans. You get exciting, winning football, but you’re always looking over your shoulder to see who’s trying to hire your coach away.
A look back at the legends
It hasn't always been about the "next big thing." Some Gardner Webb football coaches stayed long enough to become part of the campus geography.
Take Norman Harris. He coached from 1952 until 1969. That’s 17 years. He didn’t just coach football; he did basketball and baseball too. He’s the guy who led the team into the first-ever game at Spangler Stadium in 1966. You can’t talk about the history of this program without mentioning him. He laid the foundation that the current "young guns" are building on.
Then there was the 1987 team under Robert Maddox. They went 11-2. They won the SAC-8 Championship. That era, featuring quarterback Jesse James and rusher Darrell Middleton, remains the gold standard for what this program can achieve at its peak.
What most people get wrong about coaching at GWU
There’s a misconception that Gardner-Webb is an "easy" place to win because it’s a smaller pond. That’s total nonsense.
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The OVC-Big South merger has made the schedule a gauntlet. You’re playing teams like Southeast Missouri State and Tennessee State every year. To win here, a coach has to be an elite recruiter who can convince kids to choose Boiling Springs over bigger, more "famous" schools in the region.
Kris McCullough seems to get this. His first few weeks have been a whirlwind of recruiting and staff assembly. He understands that in 2026, if you aren't winning the transfer portal, you aren't winning on Saturdays.
The 2026 outlook: What happens next?
So, what should fans expect from the McCullough era?
First, expect points. Lots of them. If his history at UTPB is any indication, the Runnin' Bulldogs are going to be aggressive. They’ll likely lean on a heavy passing attack and a "pressure-everything" defensive scheme.
Second, expect a high-energy culture. McCullough is younger than some NFL players. He relates to the modern athlete in a way that older coaches sometimes struggle with. This "player-first" approach is exactly how Tre Lamb built his championship roster.
Actionable steps for the 2026 season
If you're following the program this year, keep an eye on these specific developments:
- The Quarterback Competition: With a new OC in Kenneth Hrncir, the starting job is likely up for grabs. Watch how the returning players mesh with any incoming transfers McCullough brings from the portal.
- Defensive Identity: Jake Shaw has the task of maintaining the physical presence that defined the Reisert and Lamb years while adding McCullough's aggressive flair.
- The Home Opener: The energy at Spangler Stadium for the first game of the McCullough era will be a huge indicator of how the community is buying into this new chapter.
Gardner-Webb has officially entered its "high-stakes" era. The school has proven it can identify and hire the best young minds in the country. Now, the goal is to keep one of them long enough to make a deep run in the FCS Playoffs and maybe, just maybe, bring another trophy back to Boiling Springs.