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North Carolina Targets Michael Malone as Next Basketball Coach/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ North Carolina is close to hiring NBA championship coach Michael Malone. Malone would replace Hubert Davis after five seasons at UNC. The move signals a major shift toward NBA-style leadership in college basketball.

• UNC working to hire Michael Malone
• Malone won 2023 NBA championship
• Would replace fired coach Hubert Davis
• Tar Heels searching since March 24
• Malone coached Denver Nuggets 10 seasons
• UNC basketball has six national titles
• Malone has no college head coaching experience
• Daughter plays volleyball at North Carolina
• UNC already hired Bill Belichick for football
• Hire signals shift to pro-style coaching

North Carolina is working to finalize a deal with NBA championship-winning coach Michael Malone to lead the Tar Heels men’s basketball program, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the university has not publicly discussed the search. If finalized, Malone would replace Hubert Davis, who was dismissed March 24 after five seasons leading the program following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams.

The potential hire marks a dramatic shift for one of college basketball’s most tradition-rich programs. For decades, North Carolina has kept its coaching hires within the “Carolina Family,” selecting leaders with direct ties to the program. Bringing in Malone — who has spent most of his career in the NBA — would represent a break from that tradition.

NBA Championship Experience

Malone, 54, spent 12 seasons as an NBA head coach, including a decade with the Denver Nuggets. He guided Denver to the 2023 NBA championship behind three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s top coaches.

However, the Nuggets fired Malone last spring with less than a week remaining in the regular season, a surprising move at the time. Nearly a year later, Malone is now on the verge of taking over one of college basketball’s premier programs.

North Carolina boasts six national championships and a record 21 Final Four appearances. The Tar Heels’ alumni list includes basketball legends such as Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Vince Carter, and ACC career scoring leader Tyler Hansbrough.

UNC’s Coaching Search Takes Unexpected Turn

Since Davis’ firing, several high-profile names had been linked to the opening. Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, Michigan coach Dusty May, and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan were all reportedly considered.

Lloyd publicly announced he would remain at Arizona during Final Four weekend, praising North Carolina for how it handled the search. Soon afterward, attention shifted unexpectedly to Malone, who has never served as a college head coach.

Malone’s connection to North Carolina extends beyond basketball. His daughter, Bridget, plays on the Tar Heels’ volleyball team, and Malone has previously expressed admiration for the program and the Chapel Hill community.

During an appearance on the UNC athletics “Carolina Insider” podcast last October, Malone said he had long admired North Carolina basketball, noting that his late father, longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone, often spoke about legendary Tar Heels coach Dean Smith.

UNC Embracing High-Profile Pro Coaches

If hired, Malone would join another prominent professional coach recently brought to North Carolina. The school hired six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick as football coach in December 2024.

Belichick’s first season ended with a 4-8 record, but the hire demonstrated UNC’s willingness to pursue big-name professional coaches to elevate its programs.

North Carolina’s basketball opening became one of the sport’s most prestigious opportunities. Davis’ firing marked only the fourth coaching transition since Dean Smith retired in 1997.

Smith was succeeded by longtime assistant Bill Guthridgefollowed by former UNC player Matt Doherty, then Roy Williams, and finally Davis — all with deep ties to the program.

Malone’s Coaching Background

Before becoming a head coach, Malone worked as an NBA assistant with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, and Golden State Warriors.

He also has limited college coaching experience, serving as an assistant at Oakland, Providence, and Manhattan. Malone also worked briefly in the Atlantic Coast Conference as director of men’s basketball administration at Virginia during the 1998-99 season.

David Adelman, Malone’s successor in Denver, said Malone’s NBA experience could translate well to today’s college basketball landscape, where players now earn money through name, image, and likeness deals.

A New Era for North Carolina Basketball

Hiring Malone would signal North Carolina’s willingness to adapt to modern college basketball, where recruiting, NIL deals, and the transfer portal have reshaped the sport.

With expectations always high in Chapel Hill, Malone would inherit one of college basketball’s most visible programs — and the challenge of restoring the Tar Heels to national championship contention.

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