CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has fired football coach Butch Davis.

The school issued a statement Wednesday night announcing Davis' dismissal nine days before the start of preseason practice.

Chancellor Holden Thorp says the decision was not prompted by any changes in the ongoing NCAA investigation into possible improper benefits and academic misconduct in the football program.

Rather, Thorp says he "lost confidence in our ability to come through this without harming the way people think of this institution."

The school scheduled a news conference Thursday morning to discuss the dismissal.