UNC board approves contract for new men's basketball coach Michael Malone

Shelby Swanson, The News & Observer on Apr 7, 2026

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — After the UNC Board of Trustees approved his new contract, Michael Malone officially became the new Tar Heels men’s basketball coach on Tuesday.

“Michael was the first coach we engaged with as part of the search process because of his reputation as a selfless teacher and innovator who brings an incredible ability to connect with players and get the absolute best out of those he mentors,’’ UNC executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark said in a statement. “He is a brilliant coach who will deliver a modern and disciplined approach to leading our men’s basketball program, which is critical in the current landscape of college athletics. Carolina basketball is unique and special – and we have hired a leader well-suited to continuing our championship tradition.”

A longtime NBA coach, 54-year-old Malone, spent a decade as head coach of the Denver Nuggets and led the franchise to its first NBA championship in 2023. He compiled 510 career wins as an NBA head coach.

Malone replaces Hubert Davis, who was dismissed last month following North Carolina’s first-round NCAA Tournament loss to VCU.

“Carolina is one of the most historic programs in college basketball, and I am honored to be the head coach of the Tar Heels,” Malone said in a statement. “It is humbling to follow so many legends in Chapel Hill. I know from the many Tar Heels in the NBA how special the Carolina basketball family is, and I will do everything I can to continue UNC’s championship legacy while preparing our players for professional careers and life after basketball. I offer my thanks to Chancellor Roberts, Steve and Bubba, the Board of Trustees and the search committee. I am proud to be a Tar Heel and can’t wait to get started.”

The hire continues a recent trend of UNC athletics turning to the professional ranks for leadership. Sixteen months after hiring Bill Belichick to lead its football program, UNC again made an outside-the-box choice — this time to guide the university’s signature sport.

North Carolina’s search took a few turns before landing on Malone. The Tar Heels were first linked to high-profile college coaches, including Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Michigan’s Dusty May, both of whom opted to remain at their current programs. With the transfer portal set to open Tuesday, UNC pivoted quickly, elevating Malone to the forefront of the search.

Unlike football’s coaching search, which drew scrutiny for internal dynamics and overstepping by members of UNC’s Board of Trustees, the basketball process followed a more traditional structure led by Cunningham, incoming AD Steve Newmark and search firm TurnkeyZRG.

The result, however, was similarly unconventional: a coach with no prior head coaching experience in college and no direct ties to the “Carolina family.”

That said, Malone is not unfamiliar with Chapel Hill. His daughter, Bridget, is a sophomore on the North Carolina volleyball team. Malone spent lots of time on UNC’s campus attending Bridget’s games and men’s basketball practices — even speaking with players at former coach Hubert Davis’ request, he told Carolina Insider in October. Multiple sources indicate members of the “Carolina family” are supportive of the hiring and energized by Malone’s addition.

The hire reflects the modernization of college basketball, where roster construction increasingly mirrors the professional game. With NIL opportunities, revenue sharing and the transfer portal reshaping the sport, UNC appears to have prioritized elite coaching acumen over traditional college recruiting backgrounds.

Malone’s NBA experience — including relationships with agents and international pipelines — should prove valuable. He built a reputation in Denver as a coach capable of developing and building around stars, most notably Nikola Jokić, and managing complex, high-level rosters.

For a UNC program chasing its first national title since 2017 and looking to regain footing alongside rivals like Duke, the message is clear: North Carolina is willing to try something different — and is betting Malone’s jump from the NBA to college will pay off.

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