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The UNC Tar Heels are dipping into the NBA pool for their next men’s basketball coach.
After Hubert Davis was fired following a shocking loss to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels will hire Michael Malone, according to ESPN.
North Carolina has previously been linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who will be competing for the NCAA title Monday night against UConn. But May ruled out any college running backs, and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger were also rumored to favor the Tar Heels.
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Head coach Michael Malone claps on the sideline during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., on April 6, 2025. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
But Malone, who has been in charge of the Denver Nuggets for the past 10 seasons, is the man he is committed to leading the Tar Heels back to greatness.
Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history, tallying 471 career points throughout his career there, while also winning an NBA title in 2023.
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However, Malone, despite what he says in the franchise’s record books, was fired by the Nuggets in April 2025. He quickly entered the field of sports news, joining ESPN in May 2025, but he has returned to the seat now in a whole new world that is united in comparison to the benefits.
Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t be looking for another head coach if Davis and the Tar Heels hadn’t won against No. 10 VCU in the first round, as the Rams mounted the largest first-round comeback in tournament history to eventually defeat No. 6 UNC in overtime, 82-78.
“We appreciate everything Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader — he’s helped create special memories we’ll never forget,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s incredible character and everything he has done for the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to continue to compete at the highest level.”
Davis, who made four NCAA championships, including the past three seasons, in his five campaigns with the Tar Heels, issued his own statement on the matter.
Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the game against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
“Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill,” he wrote. “My desire was to continue coaching here. This opportunity has truly been a blessing. I literally thank Jesus every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am so proud of what we have been able to accomplish together.”
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Davis added that he hopes to coach in the “near future.”
Davis, who played for UNC from 1988-92 before being drafted in the first round by the New York Knicks in 1992, left the program with about $5.3 million guaranteed in his contract, per ESPN.
Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, including a first-year Final Four appearance during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the national championship game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who again overcame a double-digit deficit to become champions.
Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
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After missing out on March Madness in 2023, the Tar Heels earned themselves the No. 1 seed. 1 in 2024, but they were dropped by No. 4 Alabama in the Sweet 16, dashing their national title hopes. Nevertheless, Davis earned himself the ACC Coach of the Year Award that year.
The Tar Heels are looking to return to the days of Roy Williams, as the UNC head coach led his team to six NCAA titles during his tenure, the most recent in 2017.
