Trending Now - Unc's Surprising Choice: Michael Malone Takes Over as Head Coach

WHO:

Newsweek - A former four-star recruit, Dylan Mingo, is rumored to have decommitted from North Carolina following the hiring of Michael Malone.

Pro Football Network - Former top-100 center James Brown has entered the transfer portal a day after Michael Malone's hiring.

Pro Football Network - Michael Malone has a personal connection to the University of North Carolina through his daughter, who plays on the Tar Heels volleyball team.

Newsweek - Tyler Hansbrough, a University of North Carolina legend, shared his thoughts on the hiring of Michael Malone as head coach.

Pro Football Network - Nikola Jokić reacted to Michael Malone’s hiring at North Carolina.

Boston.com - Mike Krzyzewski made a comment regarding the hiring of Michael Malone, referencing a past incident involving Bill Belichick.

Sportskeeda - Michael Malone is the new head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

Newsweek - A former four-star recruit has entered the transfer portal hours after Michael Malone's hiring as head coach of the University of North Carolina.

Pro Football Network - Michael Malone has a personal connection to the University of North Carolina that may have influenced his decision to accept the head coaching position.

Fox News - Michael Malone is set to be the new head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels.

Fox News - Hubert Davis was the head coach of the Tar Heels before being fired.

Pro Football Network - Tyler Hansbrough, a University of North Carolina legend, expressed his feelings about the hiring of Michael Malone.

WHAT:

Fox News - Michael Malone's hiring is part of a broader trend in college athletics, where programs are increasingly adopting a professional model, including hiring coaches with NBA experience to navigate the complexities of NIL and the transfer portal.

Fox News - The Tar Heels are set to hire Michael Malone as their next men's basketball coach, following the firing of Hubert Davis.

Fox News - Michael Malone was previously the head coach of the Denver Nuggets for 10 seasons before his firing in April 2025.

Fox News - The Tar Heels lost to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the biggest first-round comeback in tournament history.

Fox News - Hubert Davis made a statement after being let go, expressing gratitude for his time at the University of North Carolina and stating, "My desire was to continue to coach here."

Fox News - The Tar Heels were previously linked to Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger as potential candidates for the head coaching position.

CNN - Michael Malone's hiring is seen as a significant shift for the University of North Carolina, as he has no obvious ties to the program aside from his daughter playing on the Tar Heels volleyball team.

Fox News - Michael Malone is expected to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness after being hired as head coach.

Fox News - The Tar Heels were previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who withdrew his name from consideration.

Fox News - Michael Malone is expected to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness after being hired as head coach.

Fox News - The Tar Heels were previously linked to top college coaches, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who withdrew his name from consideration.

Fox News - Hubert Davis left the University of North Carolina with approximately $5.3 million still guaranteed from his contract.

Fox News - During his tenure, Hubert Davis achieved a record of 125 wins and 54 losses over 179 games.

Fox News - Michael Malone was hired to replace Hubert Davis after Davis was fired following a loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

Fox News - The Tar Heels lost to VCU, 82-78, in overtime during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Fox News - Michael Malone is the winningest coach in Denver Nuggets history, with 471 career wins.

RealGM Basketball - Malone previously spent 12 seasons as an NBA head coach, including 10 seasons with the Denver Nuggets.

WHERE:

Fox News - The University of North Carolina is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Fox News - The game where the Tar Heels lost to VCU took place in the NCAA Tournament.

WHEN:

Fox News - The Tar Heels' loss to VCU occurred on March 3rd, 2026, marking the biggest first-round comeback in NCAA Tournament history.

Fox News - Michael Malone's hiring was reported on April 6th, 2026.

Fox News - Hubert Davis was fired on April 6th, 2025, after the Tar Heels' loss to VCU on March 3rd, 2026.

CNN - Michael Malone's hiring was reported on April 6th, 2026, following the Tar Heels' loss to VCU on March 3rd, 2026.

Fox News - Michael Malone was hired on April 6th, 2026.

Fox News - The Tar Heels' loss to VCU occurred on March 3rd, 2026.

Fox News - Hubert Davis was fired on April 6th, 2025.

Fox News - Hubert Davis was fired in April 2025.

Fox News - Michael Malone won the NBA Finals with the Denver Nuggets in 2023.

Fox News - The Tar Heels' loss to VCU occurred earlier in March 2026.

WHY:

Fox News - Athletic director Bubba Cunningham stated that the decision to fire Hubert Davis was made to allow the team to compete more consistently at an elite level, emphasizing the need for a change after the loss to VCU.

Fox News - Athletic director Bubba Cunningham stated that the decision to fire Hubert Davis was made to allow the team to compete more consistently at an elite level.

CNN - The decision to hire Malone is part of a broader trend in college athletics, where programs are increasingly adopting a professional model, including hiring coaches with NBA experience to navigate the complexities of NIL and the transfer portal.

Fox News - Athletic director Bubba Cunningham stated that the decision to fire Hubert Davis was made to allow the team to compete more consistently at an elite level.

Fox News - The decision to fire Hubert Davis was made to allow the team to compete more consistently at an elite level, according to athletic director Bubba Cunningham.

HOW:

Fox News - Michael Malone transitioned to coaching at UNC after spending time in the sports media space with ESPN following his firing from the Denver Nuggets in April 2025.

Fox News - Michael Malone transitioned to coaching at UNC after spending time in the sports media space with ESPN following his firing from the Denver Nuggets.

Fox News - Michael Malone transitioned from coaching in the NBA to joining ESPN in May 2025 before accepting the head coaching position at UNC.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 19:17 UTC)

Michael Malone's recent hiring as head coach for the Tar Heels has already sparked significant changes within the program, as former four-star recruit Dylan Mingo is rumored to have decommitted and top-100 center James Brown has entered the transfer portal. This shift comes on the heels of the Tar Heels' disappointing loss to VCU March 3rd, which was the biggest first-round comeback in NCAA Tournament history, prompting athletic director Bubba Cunningham to seek a new direction for the team. Cunningham emphasized that the decision to part ways with Hubert Davis was necessary to help the Tar Heels compete more consistently at an elite level.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 17:18 UTC)

The University of North Carolina has announced the hiring of Michael Malone as their new men's basketball coach, following the firing of Hubert Davis. Malone, who has a personal connection to the university through his daughter, a player on the Tar Heels volleyball team, previously coached the Denver Nuggets for a decade before his dismissal in April 20th25. This decision comes after the Tar Heels' disappointing first-round loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament, which was noted as the biggest first-round comeback in tournament history, prompting athletic director Bubba Cunningham to seek a change for more consistent elite performance.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 13:19 UTC)

Hubert Davis was fired on Mondayth, 2025, after the Tar Heels' loss to VCU March 3rd, with athletic director Bubba Cunningham stating that the decision was made to help the team compete more consistently at an elite level. Following his dismissal, Davis expressed gratitude for his time at the University of North Carolina, saying he wanted to continue coaching there. Michael Malone, who recently transitioned to coaching at UNC after a stint in sports media with ESPN, has received reactions from both Tyler Hansbrough and Nikola Jokić regarding his hiring.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 05:31 UTC)

Michael Malone's hiring by the University of North Carolina marks a significant shift for the program, especially since he has no direct ties to it other than his daughter playing on the Tar Heels volleyball team. This decision, reported on Monday, follows the team's loss to VCU March 3rd and reflects a broader trend in college athletics towards adopting a professional model, including the recruitment of coaches with NBA experience. In a related comment, Mike Krzyzewski referenced a past incident involving Bill Belichick, highlighting the evolving landscape of college sports.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 03:50 UTC)

Michael Malone has been named the new head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, a move aimed at restoring the team's competitive edge after the dismissal of Hubert Davis. Malone, who previously worked in sports media with ESPN after his departure from the Denver Nuggets in April 20th25, is expected to lead the Tar Heels back to greatness, especially after they explored other coaching options, including Michigan’s Dusty May, who ultimately withdrew his name from consideration. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham emphasized that the decision to make a coaching change was necessary for the team to compete more consistently at an elite level.

(UPDATED April 7, 2026 01:20 UTC)

Michael Malone has been hired as the new head coach of the University of North Carolina, with hopes of leading the Tar Heels back to greatness after their recent loss to VCU March 3rd. Following this announcement, a former four-star recruit has entered the transfer portal, just hours after Malone's hiring, signaling potential changes within the team. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham explained that the decision to fire Hubert Davis was made to enhance the team's ability to compete consistently at an elite level.

(UPDATED April 6, 2026 23:05 UTC)

Hubert Davis was fired from his position as head coach at the University of North Carolina on Mondayth, 2025, despite having approximately $5.3 million still guaranteed from his contract. During his time with the team, Davis achieved a record of 125 wins and 54 losses over 179 games, but athletic director Bubba Cunningham stated that the decision to let him go was aimed at enhancing the team's competitive performance. Michael Malone, who has a personal connection to UNC, is set to take over as head coach after previously working in sports media with ESPN following his departure from the Denver Nuggets.

(UPDATED April 6, 2026 21:05 UTC)

Michael Malone has been named the new head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, replacing Hubert Davis who was fired after the team’s loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels fell to VCU by a score of 82 to 78 in overtime during the first round of the tournament earlier in March. Malone, who is the winningest coach in Denver Nuggets history with 471 career wins, previously spent twelve seasons as an NBA head coach, including ten with the Nuggets, where he won the NBA Finals in 2023. After leaving the NBA, Malone joined ESPN in May 20th25 before taking on this new role at UNC, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Tyler Hansbrough, a legendary figure at the University of North Carolina, has shared his thoughts on Malone's hiring, expressing optimism for the future of the program.