Michael Malone and the UNC men’s basketball program have officially announced the full coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, Malone’s first as head coach of the Tar Heels.

The staff features three holdovers from former head coach Hubert Davis’ staff: Sean May and Pat Sullivan will remain on the bench as assistant coaches, while Eric Hoots will remain in his longtime role as Director of Operations. Malone referred to Hoots as his “chief of staff” during his press conference at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning.

Additionally, two other former UNC players will be joining the staff. Brandon Robinson, who played for the Tar Heels from 2017-20, has signed on as an assistant coach, while Deon Thompson, who played from 2007-10, is UNC’s Director of Player Development. All four former Tar Heel players on staff – May, Sullivan, Robinson and Thompson – won national championships during their playing careers.

From outside the program, Malone has signed Chuck Martin (formerly of Arkansas) as his associate head coach, while Jorge Sanz (Gonzaga) and Bryan Tibaldi (Providence) will be assistant coaches. Both Martin and Sanz come to Chapel Hill after serving on staff for Hall of Fame head coaches: Martin for John Calipari at both Arkansas and Memphis, and Sanz for Mark Few.

“It’s a great mix of Tar Heel players who have won championships and maintain a connection to Carolina’s tradition of excellence with a blend of coaches from other programs and experiences as we chart a new path forward to compete at the highest level of college basketball,” Malone said of his new staff. “It was important to construct a staff that had connections to Carolina’s many decades of excellence while also bringing in other individuals who can enhance this great University and basketball program.”

Malone and the Tar Heels will begin their preseason when they face USC at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro Friday, Oct. 9. The first regular season game is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2 against Western Carolina at the Dean Smith Center. No tip-off times have been announced.

 

Featured image via Chapel Hill Media Group/Todd Melet

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