The University of North Carolina’s hunt for a new basketball coach has generated mixed signals, with different media outlets pointing to two distinct NBA figures as the leading candidates.
According to The Field of 68’s Sunday report, the Tar Heels are concentrating their efforts exclusively on Billy Donovan, who currently leads the Chicago Bulls and previously guided the University of Florida to consecutive national titles in 2006 and 2007.
However, ESPN contradicted this Monday, stating that North Carolina plans to bring in Michael Malone, who captured an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2025 but lacks experience as a college head coach.
The 60-year-old Donovan built an impressive 467-186 coaching record at Florida between 1996 and 2015 before transitioning to professional basketball. His NBA tenure includes a 243-157 mark with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020, followed by a 224-253 record with Chicago, including this season’s 29-48 performance.
Malone, age 54, has spent this season providing analysis for ABC and ESPN after Denver dismissed him on April 8, 2025. His head coaching career spans 510-394 across his time with the Nuggets from 2015-2025 and a brief stint with Sacramento in 2013-14. Before becoming a head coach, he served as an assistant with Golden State, New Orleans, Cleveland, and New York in the NBA.
His college experience includes assistant coaching positions at Manhattan from 1999-2001, Providence between 1995-98, and Oakland in 1994-95.
The Tar Heels dismissed Hubert Davis following their opening-round NCAA Tournament defeat to VCU last month. Other potential candidates, including Michigan’s Dusty May and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, have chosen to stay with their current programs.
