According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, UNC intends to hire former NBA head coach Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship, to the same position in Chapel Hill. He replaces Hubert Davis, who was dismissed after five seasons on March 24. Malone, 54, last coached in 2025 with the Denver Nuggets.
Tar Heel fans and the sports world at-large took to social media to share their reactions to the new hire. Sports commentators were quick to share their analysis of the hire.
A few thoughts on UNC hiring Mike Malone…1. UNC can reasonably feel like they have a coaching advantage every time they play Duke now.2. Perhaps UNC can make a great pitch to superstar big men given Malone’s history with Jokic.3. UNC doesn’t have to pay a multimillion dollar buyout for Malone.
Reactions from both Tar Heel fans and college basketball fans were mixed. While some shared their excitement for a new era of Carolina hoops, others were certainly more trepidatious about Malone, who has not coached the college level since 2001 and had not held a college head coaching job before. Former players Tyler Hansborough and Seth Trimble, quickly chimed in with their support alongside other fans — while others drew a comparison between the hire to UNC’s choice of Bill Belichick to lead its football program in 2024.
A photo from Seth Trimble’s Instagram story sharing the Michael Malone hiring news with the applause emoji. (Photo via Instagram.)
We need to fire the Chancellor, the AD, and everyone else involved in this sabotage.
— Michael Crawford (@michaelcrawford.com) 2026-04-06T18:24:57.897Z
and now we enter the "UNC can't fire Mike Malone because they need the money to fire Belichick/UNC can't fire Belichick because they need the money to fire Mike Malone" loop
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub.bsky.social) 2026-04-06T18:28:39.690Z
MALONE???#GoHeels
— Mikey in DFW (@mdwdfw.bsky.social) 2026-04-06T18:03:12.160Z
As of Monday at 4 p.m., UNC and its athletic department have not officially announced Malone’s hiring or introductory press conference.
Featured photo via AP Photo/David Zalubowski.
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