UNC set to hire Michael Malone as next men's basketball coach after firing Hubert Davis: report

The UNC Tar Heels are dipping into the NBA excavation for its adjacent men’s hoops coach.

After Hubert Davis was fired pursuing a shocking nonaccomplishment to VCU successful the archetypal circular of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, the Tar Heels are acceptable to prosecute Michael Malone, according to ESPN.

North Carolina was antecedently linked to apical assemblage coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who volition beryllium competing for an NCAA rubric connected Monday nighttime against UConn. But May took his sanction retired of immoderate moving crossed college, portion Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger were besides rumored to beryllium successful the Tar Heels’ favor.

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Head Coach Michael Malone claps connected the sidelines during the 3rd 4th against the Indiana Pacers astatine Ball Arena successful Denver, Colo., connected April 6, 2025. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

But Malone, who the past 10 seasons starring the Denver Nuggets, is the antheral they’re settling connected to pb the Tar Heels backmost to greatness.

Malone is the winningest manager successful Nuggets history, tallying 471 vocation wins crossed his vocation there, portion besides winning an NBA rubric successful 2023.

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However, Malone, contempt what helium means to the franchise grounds books, was fired by the Nuggets successful April 2025. He rapidly entered the sports media space, joining ESPN successful May 2025, but he’s backmost successful the saddle present successful a full caller collegiate satellite compared to the pros.

Perhaps North Carolina wouldn’t person been searching for different caput manager if Davis and the Tar Heels didn’t illness against No. 10 VCU successful the archetypal round, arsenic the Rams mounted the biggest first-round comeback successful tourney past to yet decision No. 6 UNC successful overtime, 82-78.

"We admit each that Hubert has done for Carolina arsenic a player, adjunct coach, caput manager and assemblage person – helium has helped marque peculiar memories we volition ne'er forget," diversion manager Bubba Cunningham said successful a statement. "This was not an casual determination due to the fact that of Hubert’s tremendous quality and each helium has fixed to the program, but we indispensable determination guardant successful a mode that allows our squad to vie much consistently astatine an elite level."

Davis, who made four NCAA Tournaments, including the past 3 seasons, implicit his 5 campaigns with the Tar Heels, released his ain connection connected the matter. 

Head manager Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets watches the crippled against the Golden State Warriors during the 2nd 4th astatine Chase Center successful San Francisco, Calif., connected April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

"Tonight, I was fto spell by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill," helium wrote. "My tendency was to proceed to manager here. This accidental has genuinely been specified a blessing. I convey Jesus virtually each time for giving maine the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I americium precise arrogant of what we were capable to execute together."

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Davis added that helium hopes to beryllium coaching "in the precise adjacent future."

Davis, who played for UNC from 1988-92 earlier being a first-round prime by the New York Knicks in 1992, near the programme with astir $5.3 cardinal inactive guaranteed from his contract, per ESPN.

Davis went 125-54 during his 179-game tenure with his alma mater, which included a first-year Final Four quality during the 2021-22 campaign. The Tar Heels reached the nationalist title game, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks, who besides overcame a double-digit shortage to beryllium crowned champions.

Head manager Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets looks connected during the 4th fourth against the Golden State Warriors astatine Chase Center successful San Francisco, Calif., connected April 4, 2025. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

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 After missing March Madness successful 2023, the Tar Heels earned themselves a No. 1 effect successful 2024, but they were taken down by No. 4 Alabama successful the Sweet 16, cutting their nationalist rubric hopes short. Still, Davis earned himself the ACC Coach of the Year Award that year. 

The Tar Heels privation to get backmost to the Roy Williams days, arsenic the legendary UNC caput manager led his squad to six NCAA titles during his tenure, the astir caller coming successful 2017.