Celtics' Brad Stevens Declines North Carolina Coaching Offer

The former Butler coach remains committed to his front office role with the Boston Celtics.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 9:25pm

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According to reports, Brad Stevens, the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, has declined an opportunity to interview for the head coaching vacancy at the University of North Carolina. Stevens, who previously coached at Butler, has been a frequent target for high-profile college coaching jobs but has consistently turned down such offers to remain with the Celtics organization.

Why it matters

Stevens' decision to stay with the Celtics is significant, as North Carolina is considered one of the premier college basketball programs in the country. His continued commitment to the Celtics organization reinforces his belief in the team's long-term vision and his role in shaping its future.

The details

The North Carolina job opened up after the school fired head coach Hubert Davis on Tuesday. The Tar Heels search committee reportedly targeted Stevens as a top candidate, along with other high-profile coaches such as Arizona's Tommy Lloyd, Michigan's Dusty May, Iowa State's TJ Otzelberger, and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan. However, CBS Sports reported that Stevens declined to interview for the position, opting to remain in his current role as president of basketball operations for the Celtics.

  • On Tuesday, the University of North Carolina fired head coach Hubert Davis.
  • CBS Sports reported on March 25, 2026 that Brad Stevens declined to interview for the North Carolina coaching vacancy.

The players

Brad Stevens

The president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, who previously served as the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs basketball team.

University of North Carolina

A prestigious college basketball program that recently fired head coach Hubert Davis and was seeking a new head coach.

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What’s next

The University of North Carolina will continue its search for a new head basketball coach after Brad Stevens declined to interview for the position.

The takeaway

Brad Stevens' decision to remain with the Boston Celtics organization highlights his long-term commitment to the team and his belief in the franchise's future, despite interest from one of college basketball's premier programs.