Marcus Paige, who became one of the most beloved Tar Heels in recent memory during his four years in Chapel Hill, will return to UNC and join the men’s basketball coaching staff. Inside Carolina first reported the news in April, and the basketball program confirmed it with a release on Friday.

“I am thankful and honored to be a part of UNC Basketball with Coach [Hubert] Davis and his staff,” said Paige in a statement. “I’ve always wanted the opportunity to make the same positive impact on players that my former coaches, including Coach [Roy] Williams and Coach Davis, made on me.”

Paige will assume the role of Director of Team and Player Development. That role was most recently filled by Jackie Manuel, who left the program this offseason for an assistant coaching position at American University. The position means Paige will be allowed to sit on the bench during games.

Manuel’s responsibilities with Carolina included video services, career development and coaching the UNC junior varsity basketball team.

Paige played under head coach Roy Williams at Carolina from 2012 through 2016, immediately starting at point guard as a true freshman after the departure of Kendall Marshall. Paige finished his career with 139 starts and still ranks as UNC’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (299), attempts (798), consecutive games with a made three (41) and three-pointers made in the NCAA Tournament (39). The last of those makes is one of the most indelible images in Carolina history: a double-clutch shot in the waning seconds of the 2016 NCAA championship against Villanova which tied the game. Ultimately, the Wildcats won the game on a buzzer-beater to deny Paige a national title in his final collegiate game.

“It’s hard, because at some point tonight I have to take this jersey off, and I never get to put it back on,” a despondent Paige said after the game.

Paige’s No. 5 jersey is honored in the rafters at the Smith Center due to him being named a second team All-American as a sophomore. His work in the classroom also earned him Academic All-American honors three times, and Paige graduated with a degree from the School of Media and Journalism. He won the Skip Prosser Award, given to the ACC’s top scholar-athlete in basketball, twice.

“The standard for every Carolina basketball player is to be elite in three areas: on the court, in the classroom and in the community,” said Davis. “There was no better example of that than Marcus Paige. I am thrilled to have a person with his character, love, passion, and devotion to this program and university be around our players every day.”

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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.

Related Stories
‹
This Week in UNC Sports: October 12-18
More and more of UNC's winter sports are beginning their seasons as we hit the middle of October, and "crossover season" is upon us.
'You Want to Win for Him': Michael Malone's Unofficial UNC Welcome is a Hit
UNC head coach Michael Malone drew rave reviews after his Tar Heels beat USC 88-70 in a preseason exhibition Friday night.
UNC Men's Basketball Beats USC in Greensboro Preseason Exhibition
UNC outscored USC 51-31 in the second half to overcome a halftime deficit and beat the Trojans 88-70 in a preseason exhibition in Greensboro.
UNC Men's Basketball vs. USC (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off Time
UNC fans will get their first look at head coach Michael Malone’s Tar Heels Friday night when Carolina takes on USC in a preseason exhibition at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro. It’s UNC’s first game of any kind in Greensboro since the 2023 ACC Tournament. If you aren’t making the trip to the game, here’s […]
Breaking Down Michael Malone's Challenge to Jarin Stevenson, UNC's Gentle Giant
Earlier in the offseason, a fellow reporter and I were discussing Tar Heel senior forward Jarin Stevenson. As the team’s only returning starter and one of the only familiar faces fans can latch on to after an offseason of upheaval, he projects to be a key player for UNC in 2026-27. That prominent role, plus […]
Are They Eligible? Keeping Up with UNC's Rece Verhoff, Cameron Fens and Others
Student-athletes across the country are currently embroiled in an eligibility fight against the NCAA. The athletes, who graduated high school in 2022, are seeking a fifth year of eligibility under the NCAA’s new rules. However, the NCAA is countering that the rule only applies to students currently in college from the 2026-27 academic year forward. […]
UNC Men's Basketball Releases 2026-27 ACC Schedule
The ACC revealed the men’s basketball league schedule for the 2026-27 season Wednesday afternoon. UNC’s league games begin Dec. 30 and end March 6. Mark your calendars 📅 pic.twitter.com/BXaZ7OHdJd — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 9, 2026 The Tar Heels will begin conference play by hosting Cal at the Smith Center Wednesday, Dec. 30. Carolina is […]
Michael Malone Announces Full UNC Men's Basketball Coaching Staff
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. Official. pic.twitter.com/KmX5Ct793x — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) September 3, 2026 The staff features three holdovers from former head coach Hubert Davis’ staff: Sean May and Pat Sullivan will […]
'Something Much Bigger than Myself': Highlights from Michael Malone's Sep. 3 Press Conference
UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone met with the media at the Dean Smith Center Thursday morning. In his comments, Malone addressed eligibility issues around center Cameron Fens, the shifting legal landscape around college sports, his coaching style and more. Read highlights from the press conference, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below: […]
UNC's Cameron Fens Now Ineligible After Tennessee Court Ruling
Cameron Fens, a seven-foot center who transferred to UNC from South Dakota earlier in August, is now ineligible to play for the Tar Heels in the 2026-27 season after ruling from the Tennessee Court of Appeals Wednesday. The court has issued a stay on the injunction granted to several athletes – Fens included – who […]
›