After losing to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament despite a 19-point lead, the North Carolina Tar Heels parted ways with Hubert Davis.
Davis, who played at North Carolina from 1988 to 1992 before a lengthy NBA career, returned to Chapel Hill as an assistant in 2012, then took over the head job when Roy Williams retired in 2021. Davis led the Heels to an appearance in the 2022 national championship game in his first season (and, for UNC fans, more importantly, a Final Four win over hated Duke).
The Heels missed the tournament in Davis’ second season but reached the Sweet 16 in 2024. Back-to-back first-round exits doomed Davis and started the search for their next coach.
North Carolina Hires Mike Malone
UNC had been linked to Michigan coach Dusty May, Chicago Bulls head coach (and former Florida Gators coach) Billy Donovan, but they are going in a different direction.
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, North Carolina is hiring former Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone.
Per Thamel: “Sources: North Carolina intends to hire longtime NBA coach Michael Malone as the school’s next basketball coach. He’s an NBA Championship coach with the Denver Nuggets from the 2022-23 season and has won 510 games as an NBA head coach.”
Sources: North Carolina intends to hire longtime NBA coach Michael Malone as the school’s next basketball coach. He’s an NBA Championship coach with the Denver Nuggets from the 2022-23 season and has won 510 games as an NBA head coach. pic.twitter.com/JwJmUNRLQT
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 6, 2026
Malone became the Kings’ head coach in 2013 but was fired in December 2014. He was hired by the Nuggets in June of 2015. After missing the playoffs in each of his first three seasons (despite a 46-36 record during the 2017-18 season), the Nuggets reached the conference semifinals in each of the next three seasons (including a conference finals appearance in 2020).
After a first-round loss in 2022, it looked like their run (and Malone’s job) might be in jeopardy. However, the Nuggets put together an all-time great playoff run in 2023, going 16-4 in the postseason to take home the NBA title.
After losing in the conference semifinals in 2024, Malone was fired just prior to the end of the 2024-25 season despite a 47-32 record.
College Basketball World Reacts to North Carolina Hiring Mike Malone
When one of the most storied programs in college basketball history hires a former NBA champion, it is obviously going to make a lot of noise, and the college basketball world’s responses did not disappoint.
Some quick research shows that Malone’s daughter is a volleyball player at North Carolina, as PFSN’s Alex Kennedy pointed out.
“Mike Malone’s daughter is a volleyball player at UNC, as @GoodmanHoops notes,” Kennedy said. “This may help explain his shocking college-basketball pivot to coach the Tar Heels.”
Mike Malone’s daughter is a volleyball player at UNC, as @GoodmanHoops notes. This may help explain his shocking college-basketball pivot to coach the Tar Heels. pic.twitter.com/F4TVbGOf0u
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) April 6, 2026
NFL insider Ian Rapoport pointed out that most did think an NBA coach would potentially get the job due to the Donovan rumors, but instead it was a different NBA coach.
“An NBA coach to UNC… just not the one everyone thought,” Rapoport said.
An NBA coach to UNC… just not the one everyone thought. https://t.co/DGGCbZiaM4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2026
As Six Rings of SteeI pointed out, this was a shock to almost everyone.
“No one, and I mean absolutely no one could see this coming,” he said.
No one, and I mean absolutely no one could see this coming https://t.co/QVBbj9iJ6C
— Matt (@sixringsofsteeI) April 6, 2026
David Eickholt of 24/7 Sports and CBS Sports had the same thought.
“Wow,” Eickholt said. “I don’t remember anyone talking about him. Off the wall.”
Wow. I don’t remember anyone talking about him. Off the wall. https://t.co/P3yfi8rDvj
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) April 6, 2026
As many have pointed out, this gives the Heels a former NBA champion and a six-time Super Bowl Champion coaching their basketball and football teams.
“Bill Belichick and Michael Malone,” Wyatt Wheeler of the USA Today said. “Weird school.
Bill Belichick and Michael Malone.
Weird school. https://t.co/1Y4goMaLFa
— Wyatt Wheeler (@WyattWheeler_) April 6, 2026
Marty Mush of Barstool Sports doesn’t understand the hire, but he’s here for it.
“This makes no sense whatsoever and that makes me happy,” Mush said.
This makes no sense whatsoever and that makes me happy https://t.co/hF4lq4gyaL
— Marty Mush (@martymush) April 6, 2026
Some, including Sirius NBA host Brian Geltzeiler, love the move.
“Wow!!!” Geltzeiler exclaimed. “Great hire for NC and Malone get a a chance to plant his flag at one of the blue blood programs in the nation. Win/win.”
Wow!!! Great hire for NC and Malone get a a chance to plant his flag at one of the blue blood programs in the nation. Win/win https://t.co/K6OkBroa6A
— Brian Geltzeiler (@BGeltzNBA) April 6, 2026
Clearly, we’re going to have to see how Malone fits into the modern era of college basketball. He has previously been an assistant in college at Oakland, Providence and Manhattan, but he hasn’t coached in college since 2001.
