When Hubert Davis took over as the head coach at North Carolina in 2021, the pressure was almost instantaneous. It is not easy to replace a legend like Roy Williams. But in the 4 seasons that have followed, Davis has made the NCAA Tournament three times and even had 100 wins faster than all but two Tar Heel coaches in history. The 2024-25 campaign ended with a 23-14 record with a 13-7 conference run.
UNC did bow out a little early, but Davis’s consistency cannot be ignored. Perhaps it is this consistency that has given Davis a new offseason challenge. Davis is serving as a coach for USA Basketball’s U19 National Team. How is the UNC head coach managing two teams, new players, and a schedule that never sleeps?
How Is UNC HC Hubert Davis Preparing Team USA?
Hubert Davis doesn’t get months together like he does at UNC with the U19 team. He gets less time, and it is just as much pressure. In a recent interview with ON3, Davis even talked about his time in Colorado Springs with Team USA. “It’s quick, you know, helping coach, because I’m only here a couple of days,” said Davis. However, the UNC coach has a plan in place.
Hubert Davis is coaching at the USA Basketball U19 National Team Training Camp this week. He talked with Inside Carolina about the USA experience and UNC’s offseason focus.
“Skill development is huge for us.”
Read: https://t.co/5o50NEG5sk pic.twitter.com/pPmc9FN3hA
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) June 17, 2025
The USA U19 team, prepping for the FIBA World Cup in Switzerland, is full of upcoming college stars and crème de la crème of high school grads. While the head coach for the U19 team is Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Davis’s role as a court coach is not an easy one. His process, however, is quite good yet simple.
As Davis himself puts it, “Being in this setting, I’m really doing two things: first, talking with them about basketball, and second, getting to know them and being around them. It’s just awesome.” Many of these players know him either as the UNC coach or some through campus visits and recruiting trips.
Now, they’re on the same court, and Davis is using every moment. The U19 squad has stiff group-stage competition with Australia, France, and Cameroon playing. But leading young players through chaos is nothing new to Davis. Additionally, Team USA heads into group play with history on its side.
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Team USA has a 4-2 record against Australia and has six straight wins over France. But the first time they face Cameroon. The U19 team will begin its FIBA U19 World Cup journey in Lausanne, Switzerland. The hullabaloo goes on from June 28 to July 6. As he continues to juggle Team USA duties with HC plans, he is also coming off a personal milestone.
Davis had his first-ever first-round NBA Draft pick. Drake Powell’s 22nd overall selection was a milestone. Evidently, Davis’s system develops pros. Powell joins Harrison Ingram as the second Tar Heel drafted under Davis. All this, and UNC’s season isn’t far off.
With pre-season top off against Winston-Salem State in late October, followed by Kansas, Michigan State, and Kentucky showdowns, the Tar Heels’ schedule gets tougher with each game. Their season comes to an end in March with the ACC tournament.
