The North Carolina Tar Heels surprised everybody by hiring former Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
After firing Hubert Davis as the men’s basketball coach, North Carolina has decided on Malone in an unexpected move. Malone has never been a college head coach before, and he is just one year removed from being fired by the Nuggets.
During Malone’s introductory press conference in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, he opened up on making the move to the college ranks.
“I have a chance to be a part of something special,” Malone said. “This was the only college job I’d ever consider. Any other job, I wouldn’t even answer the phone.”
"I have a chance to be a part of something special. … This was the only college job I'd ever consider."
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) April 7, 2026
Michael Malone on his decision to become the head coach of @UNC_Basketball. pic.twitter.com/g3HFnzQ6s4
North Carolina is a blueblood in college basketball, and Davis took the Tar Heels to the national title game in his first year after replacing the legendary Roy Williams.
North Carolina made headlines in 2024 after hiring Bill Belichick as the football coach, so the Tar Heels are now dipping into the NBA realm in hopes of bringing the basketball program back to a national title game.
Malone’s daughter, Bridget, is also a volleyball player at North Carolina, so that is an interesting tie in the hire.
Now, Malone has high expectations, which grew even more after reports swirled of his contract being in the six-year, $80 million range, which puts him in the top-five in the sport at approximately $8 million annually.
