New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone smiles as athletic director Bubba Cunningham speaks during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Kaitlin McKeown
kmckeown@newsobserver.com
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UNC basketball coach search
UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis coached the Tar Heels for five seasons but was let go after they were defeated in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. On April 7, the university hired former NBA coach Michael Malone. Here’s ongoing coverage of North Carolina’s coaching transition.
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North Carolina introduced new men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone at a press conference on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Malone, 54, spent a decade as the head coach for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and led the franchise to a championship in 2023.
Malone replaces Hubert Davis, who was dismissed following the Tar Heels’ first-round NCAA Tournament loss to VCU.
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone arrives with his daughter, Bridget, and wife, Jocelyn, to an introductory press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone shakes hands with incoming athletic director Steve Newmark during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
People walk by a photograph of North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone prior to an introductory press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone poses for a photograph with athletic director Bubba Cunningham, chancellor Lee Roberts and incoming athletic director Steve Newmark during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone speaks during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
North Carolina volleyball player Bridget Malone smiles as her father, Michael Malone, speaks after being introduced as the men’s basketball head coach during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Roy Williams smiles as new North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone talks about his daughter, Bridget, a freshman volleyball player, during Malone’s introductory press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone reacts as athletic director Bubba Cunningham speaks about banners in the rafters of the Smith Center during a press conference on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone speaks during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
North Carolina freshman guard Derek Dixon listens as new men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone answers questions during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone speaks during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Incoming North Carolina athletic director Steve Newmark smiles as new men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone speaks during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Roy Williams smiles as he arrives at the Smith Center for a press conference to introduce new North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone looks out on the crowd following an introductory press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone listens to a question during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
North Carolina volleyball player Bridget Malone smiles she hugs her father, Michael Malone, after he was introduced as the men’s basketball head coach during a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New North Carolina men’s basketball coach Michael Malone smiles up at fans following a press conference at the Smith Center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis coached the Tar Heels for five seasons but was let go after they were defeated in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. On April 7, the university hired former NBA coach Michael Malone. Here’s ongoing coverage of North Carolina’s coaching transition.
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