On This Day: UNC Officially Hires Hubert Davis as Men's Basketball Head Coach

The start of a new era of Carolina men’s basketball began one year ago on April 5, 2021.

Around mid-afternoon of that day, Hubert Davis was officially announced as the new head coach of the program, taking over from Roy Williams days after the Hall of Famer announced he was stepping down from the role. Davis, who had never held a head coaching position beyond the Carolina junior varsity team, spent nine seasons on Williams’ staff as an assistant.

Early returns on the hire are quite clear. The Tar Heels had an up-and-down start to the 2021-22 season, but put together a strong finish that included a run to the NCAA National Championship game, beating Duke twice and defeating the previous national champions Baylor. Davis finished with a 29-10 record in his first season and became the first coach to lead the same program to the Final Four as both a player and a head coach.

The next day, April 6, UNC held a formal press conference to welcome Davis to the role and allow him to speak to the media.

“The foundation is set here at Carolina and it’s a foundation that I believe in,” Davis said about the Carolina tradition of relationship-building. “It’s a foundation that has been tested and tried and proven successful through Coach Smith, Coach [Bill] Guthridge and Coach Williams. I’ve got no desire, I’ve got no plans of going away from that foundation, because I believe in it.”

“I love this University,” added Davis in a Carolina Athletics release. “I played here, I earned my degree here, I fell in love with my wife here, I got married here, I moved here after I retired from the NBA and I have raised my family here. I am proud to lead this team, and I can’t wait for all that comes next.”

Here is a photo gallery from Hubert Davis’ introductory press conference in the Dean Smith Center on April 6, 2021.

Hubert Davis walks out of the tunnel in the Dean Smith Center for the first time as UNC’s head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis points to friends and family as he walks to his introductory press conference in the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis greets friends and family after his introductory press conference at the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Members of the media gather in the Dean Smith Center for Hubert Davis’ introductory press conference as UNC’s head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis answers a question during his introductory press conference as UNC’s head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis answers questions during his introductory press conference as UNC’s head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Roy Williams gives Hubert Davis a thumbs up during the press conference in the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis listens as he is introduced during his introductory press conference as UNC’s head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis smiles while talking about his family during his introductory press conference as UNC’s head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis wears a pin with the letters “DES” on it — for Dean Edwards Smith — during his introductory press conference at the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Bubba Cunningham introduces Hubert Davis as UNC’s new head coach at a press conference in the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Roy Williams is emotional while listening to the press conference to introduce longtime assistant Hubert Davis as the next head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Roy Williams greets members of the media following the press conference to introduce Hubert Davis as the new UNC men’s basketball coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

UNC football coach Mack Brown watches the press conference to introduce new basketball coach Hubert Davis on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis laughs at a remark during his introductory press conference as UNC’s head coach on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Hubert Davis smiles after finishing up his introductory press conference at the Dean Smith Center on Tuesday, April 6. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

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 biweekly newsletter.

On This Day: UNC Officially Hires Hubert Davis as Men’s Basketball Head Coach

On Air Now: 97.9 FM