The University of North Carolina is finalizing a deal to hire Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone as the next leader of the Tar Heels' men's basketball program, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. The stunning hire brings an NBA championship-winning coach to Chapel Hill to replace Hubert Davis, who was dismissed following a disappointing postseason performance.
The decision to move on from Davis came after a historic collapse in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where the No. 6-seeded Tar Heels blew a record-setting lead in a first-round loss to No. 11 VCU. The defeat marked the program's second straight first-round exit, leading Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham to look outside the traditional "Carolina Family" for the first time in decades.
Malone brings a prestigious professional resume to the collegiate ranks. He famously led the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA title in 2023 and has recorded more than 510 career victories as an NBA head coach. While the UNC search was initially linked to high-profile candidates like Billy Donovan and Tommy Lloyd, the program pivoted to Malone after Lloyd signed a contract extension with Arizona earlier this week.
The university is expected to officially introduce Malone at a press conference at the Dean E. Smith Center in the coming days. He will be tasked with revitalizing the blue-blood program and navigating the complexities of the modern NIL landscape.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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