UNC fans and basketball insiders took to social media in droves to share their reactions — and to celebrate — after Tuesday’s formal hiring and introduction of Michael Malone to lead the Tar Heel men’s basketball program.
After being widely reported on Monday, Malone’s section was made official on Tuesday by UNC leaders approving his contract and scheduling an introductory press conference in Dean Smith Center. In the run-up to the evening event, many of the Carolina Athletics program’s social media accounts jumped into the action of welcoming Malone to campus.
As the press conference got underway, the gathered media members reported on what Malone and UNC athletics directors Bubba Cunningham and Steve Newmark said about the decision. Some of those details and observations gained traction among Tar Heel fans as they reacted.
Most of all, though, fans shared their own reactions and first impressions of the new head men’s basketball coach. Here are some of the highlights posted from the Carolina faithful who were either in the Smith Center on Tuesday or following along from afar:
I regret to inform all of you that I think I would potentially run through a brick wall for Michael Malone
— Brandon Anderson (@brandonanderson.bsky.social) 2026-04-07T22:39:19.932Z
I'm more sold now than I was already after the press conference. Welcome to UNC Coach Malone! #GoHeels
— J4yDubs (John) (@j4ydubs.watershome.com) 2026-04-07T22:59:17.372Z
To see a full photo gallery from Chapelboro and the Chapel Hill Media Group from Tuesday’s press conference, click here.
Featured photo via Todd Melet/Chapel Hill Media Group.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
Tracking Which UNC Men's Basketball Players Have Entered the 2026 Transfer PortalThe NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal opened Tuesday, April 7, the day after the national championship game. Following UNC head coach Hubert Davis’ dismissal on March 24, several Tar Heels have entered their names into the portal and pursue other opportunities. Here’s a list of which players have either made announcements or are reported to […]
5-Star Commit Dylan Mingo Will Not Join UNC Men's BasketballFive-star guard prospect Dylan Mingo, who pledged to join the UNC men’s basketball program for the 2026-27 season, will not come to Chapel Hill after all. Mingo, a 6-foot-5 guard from Long Island who ESPN rated as the No. 9 overall player in his recruiting class, originally committed to UNC on Feb. 17, less than […]
Jarin Stevenson to Return to UNC Men's Basketball for Senior SeasonJarin Stevenson will return to the UNC men’s basketball season and play his senior season in Chapel Hill for head coach Michael Malone. Stevenson made the announcement on social media Monday. View this post on Instagram The 6-foot-10 wing never formally entered his name to the NCAA transfer portal following the end of the men’s […]
Report: UNC Men's Basketball Hiring Former Providence Head Coach Kim English as AssistantAccording to reports by both Inside Carolina and ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the UNC men’s basketball program is hiring former Providence head coach Kim English to Michael Malone’s staff in Chapel Hill. English spent the past three seasons with the Friars, though Providence finished with losing record in both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, leading to […]
Virginia Tech Transfer Neoklis Avdalas Commits to UNC Men's BasketballNeoklis Avdalas, who spent his first season in college basketball playing at Virginia Tech, reportedly committed to head coach Michael Malone and UNC out of the transfer portal Monday. Originally from Athens, Greece, Avdalas played professionally in the Greek HEBA A1 league for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, averaging 7.7 points per game. The 6-foot-9 […]
UNC's Luka Bogavac to Enter Transfer Portal After 1 SeasonAfter one season in Chapel Hill, UNC wing Luka Bogavac is entering his name into the transfer portal. Bogavac’s journey to Carolina was a long one. After committing to the Tar Heels during the summer, the Montenegrin national dealt with eligibility issues which kept him out of UNC’s two exhibition contests. He was eventually cleared […]
Chansky's Notebook: Past and PresentMichael Malone may not come from the “Carolina Family,” but Hubert Davis made him feel like an adopted son.
Report: UNC Men's Basketball Hiring Chuck Martin as Associate Head CoachMichael Malone is already working to fill out his staff. According to reports from both Inside Carolina and college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Malone and UNC are hiring Arkansas assistant Chuck Martin to be the Tar Heels’ associate head coach. Michael Malone has landed his top assistant, as Arkansas' Chuck Martin is set to join […]
Chansky's Notebook: New York FireDavid Glenn digs into the background of new UNC men's basketball head coach Michael Malone, who was introduced Tuesday.
Tar Heel Fans React to Michael Malone's UNC Introduction on Social MediaTuesday's formal hiring and introduction of Michael Malone to lead the UNC men's basketball program led to scores of UNC fans took to social media to share their celebration and reactions.
›
