North Carolina hired Michael Malone to replace Hubert Davis after failing to land their top coaching targets. The program reportedly panicked, refusing to wait for Billy Donovan's decision.
North Carolina will pay Michael Malone to coach basketball in Chapel Hill. The program, after missing on its primary targets, pivoted to the former Nuggets coach and secured his services.
The Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis after an early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Davis's team suffered a first-round collapse vs. VCU. He was paid $5 million to leave.
UNC's initial list of replacements included Nate Oats, Dusty May, and Tommy Lloyd. Iowa's Ben McCollum, fresh off a surprise run to the Elite Eight, also turned down a chance to interview.
The Donovan Factor
Billy Donovan was also considered for the job. Like Malone, he has spent the last decade coaching in the NBA. But unlike Malone, Donovan boasts national championship success, winning back-to-back titles at Florida in the mid-2000s. The Gators made four Final Four appearances under Donovan.
Donovan was reportedly in contact with boosters and administrators earlier in the offseason and was considered the favorite to land the job as recently as last week. He wanted to wait until the end of the NBA season to make a final decision.
Panic In Chapel Hill
The Tar Heels, according to college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, panicked after being spurned by multiple candidates. North Carolina refused to wait for Donovan's decision. Given the recruiting timeline and the importance of the transfer portal, the school needed someone in place immediately.
Malone, 54, secured a championship with the Nuggets in 2023. He won 59% of his games across 12 seasons in the NBA. Ten of those seasons were spent in Denver, with the other two coming in Sacramento. Malone was relieved of his duties before the 2025 playoffs.
Malone has college experience, serving as an assistant for three different schools between 1994-2001. He will now be tasked with navigating the NIL landscape and the transfer portal. Davis was believed to have had a $10 million budget in 2025-26.
A Familiar Feeling
The move mirrors the football team's hire a year earlier. Bill Belichick, considered the greatest NFL coach of all time, struggled in Year 1.
North Carolina hopes Malone brings immediate success. Backlash is sure to follow if the Tar Heels get off to a slow start.
