The UNC Tar Heels are making a significant move in their men’s basketball program as they consider hiring Michael Malone. This comes after Hubert Davis was let go following a surprising defeat to VCU in the NCAA Tournament’s first round earlier this month.
The university had initially been linked to high-profile coaches, including Dusty May from the University of Michigan, who is currently competing for the NCAA title. However, May’s name has been removed from the consideration list, and other potential candidates like Tommy Lloyd from Arizona State and TJ Otzelberger from Iowa State were also mentioned.
Nonetheless, the focus seems to be on Malone, who has successfully coached the Denver Nuggets for the past decade. He holds the record as the winningest coach in Nuggets history, with 471 wins and a championship title from 2023 to his name.
Despite his impressive track record, Malone was dismissed by the Nuggets in April 2025. He briefly transitioned to sports media, joining ESPN in May 2025, but it appears he is now pivoting back to college basketball, a whole new ball game after focusing on the pros.
It’s worth noting that UNC likely wouldn’t be on the hunt for a new head coach if not for Davis and the team facing a heavy defeat against VCU, marking one of the tournament’s most shocking upsets with a final score of 82-78 in overtime.
Athletic director Bubba Cunningham expressed gratitude for Davis’s contributions, emphasizing the difficult decision to part ways and the need to enhance the team’s competitive status at a higher level.
In his own statement, Davis remarked on his unexpected firing, expressing his desire to continue coaching and gratefulness for his time spent with the players and staff at UNC. He acknowledged the opportunities and relationships built during his tenure.
Davis, a UNC alum and first-round NBA draft pick in 1992, concluded his time at the university with a solid record of 125-54 over five seasons, including a memorable run to the national championship game during his inaugural year, where they narrowly lost to Kansas.
The Tar Heels are aiming to reclaim their former glory, reminiscent of the Roy Williams era when the esteemed coach secured six NCAA titles, with the most recent one in 2017.
