The North Carolina Tar Heels’ search for a new head coach is over.
North Carolina made a surprising move by hiring former Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
Malone’s name was very unexpected, but he won an NBA title with the Nuggets and he could be a good fit for the program in Chapel Hill. After the news surfaced, former North Carolina star Ty Lawson reacted to the decision to bring in Maline, and Lawson is excited about it.
“Mike Malone!!!!!! Yeah he gonna get ish done fasho !!!! Unc I love it!!!” Lawson wrote on X.
Mike Malone!!!!!! Yeah he gonna get ish done fasho !!!! Unc I love it!!!
— Ty Lawson (@TyLawson3) April 6, 2026
A report emerged previously that the top candidates for North Carolina were Billy Donovan, Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May.
However, Arizona gave Lloyd a new contract, and May informed Michigan officials he wasn’t looking for another job.
The NBA season hasn’t ended, and with the transfer portal opening on Tuesday, North Carolina had a tough decision to make, which led to the move to hire Malone instead of waiting to kick the tires on Donovan.
Malone’s daughter is a volleyball player at North Carolina, so there were some ties there.
Still, it’s a big move by the program, but Lawson is all the way on board with the choice his alma mater made for the next head coach.
