Top 3 Favorites to Replace Hubert Davis at UNC After Tommy Lloyd Decision

With two top candidates off the board, UNC has a new list of leading contenders for its head coaching job.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:07pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented college basketball game, with players and the court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The search for a new head coach at the University of North Carolina has become a complex puzzle, with leading candidates opting to stay at their current programs.Ann Arbor Today

After Arizona's Tommy Lloyd decided to stay with the Wildcats, the North Carolina Tar Heels are left searching for a new head coach to replace Hubert Davis. According to the prediction website Kalshi, the current top three favorites are Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, Texas Tech's Grant McCasland, and Michigan's Dusty May.

Why it matters

The UNC head coaching job is one of the most prestigious positions in college basketball, and finding the right replacement for Hubert Davis will be crucial for the Tar Heels' future success. The decision will have major implications for the program and the broader college basketball landscape.

The details

Rick Pitino was initially rumored to be a top candidate, but he signed an upgraded deal to stay at St. John's. Tommy Lloyd of Arizona was also considered a favorite, but he has decided to remain with the Wildcats. With those two options off the table, the current top three favorites are: 1) Billy Donovan, the Chicago Bulls head coach who led Florida to two NCAA championships; 2) Grant McCasland, the Texas Tech head coach who has seen his stock rise; and 3) Dusty May, the Michigan head coach who is facing off against Lloyd's Arizona team in the Final Four on Saturday.

  • On Friday, Tommy Lloyd announced he would be staying at Arizona instead of taking the UNC job.
  • Rick Pitino recently signed an upgraded deal to remain the head coach at St. John's.

The players

Billy Donovan

The current head coach of the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, Donovan previously led the Florida Gators to back-to-back college championships two decades ago and is now the heavy favorite to become the new Tar Heels head coach.

Grant McCasland

The current head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, McCasland has seen his odds of landing the UNC job rise significantly in recent days and is now considered the second-best candidate.

Dusty May

The current head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, May is the third-best candidate according to the prediction website Kalshi, though he has stated he is adamant about staying in Ann Arbor.

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What’s next

The UNC administration will continue its search for a new head coach, with Donovan, McCasland, and May emerging as the top candidates. The decision could come in the coming weeks, with the new coach expected to be in place before the start of the next college basketball season.

The takeaway

The UNC head coaching job is one of the most coveted positions in college basketball, and the search to replace Hubert Davis has taken an interesting turn with the top initial candidates opting to stay with their current teams. The Tar Heels will now have to carefully evaluate their options and find the right leader to guide the program back to prominence.