An update has emerged on Hubert Davis’ future at North Carolina after the school’s first round exit from the NCAA Tournament.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Saturday that there is a growing belief around the Tar Heels that a change is coming to the coaching staff after the Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead and lost to VCU in the first round. North Carolina would seek to handle Davis’ exit gracefully as a school legend, but he is clearly on thin ice.
“The tenor at North Carolina right now is that there will be a new coaching staff there next season,” Thamel said on “College Gameday.”
What’s the latest on Hubert Davis and UNC? We explore on @espn, with a decision expected on Davis’ future in upcoming day. The tenor at UNC is that a change is coming. pic.twitter.com/ROWHqDRMjV
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 21, 2026
Thamel added that if a change is made, North Carolina will likely pursue “Hall of Fame coaches and national championship coaches.” No decision on Davis’ future is likely until early next week, at least. The coach has a fairly forgiving buyout of just over $5 million.
Davis guided North Carolina to a surprising run to the national championship game in his first season as head coach. Since then, consistent success has eluded him. They reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2024, but have failed to get out of the first round in each of the last two years.
Davis is 125-54 as head coach, but that is not good enough for a North Carolina program that expects to be winning championships. The fact that one Tar Heel legend was not even surprised by their tournament exit does not look good either.
