North Carolina Hires NBA Champion Coach Michael Malone

Malone takes over as Tar Heels look to return to basketball prominence

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:06am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented college basketball game, with sharp planes of Carolina blue, white, and black overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.The University of North Carolina's bold move to hire an NBA champion coach signals a new era for the storied Tar Heels basketball program.Chapel Hill Today

The University of North Carolina has hired Michael Malone, an NBA championship-winning coach, to lead their men's basketball program. Malone, who spent the last 12 seasons as an NBA head coach, acknowledged that he is an outsider to the Carolina basketball tradition but is ready to embrace a new vision to get the program back to where it wants to be.

Why it matters

North Carolina is one of the most storied college basketball programs, with six national titles and a record 21 Final Four appearances. The Tar Heels have typically kept the head coaching job within the 'Carolina Family', making Malone's hiring as an outsider from the NBA a significant departure from tradition.

The details

Malone, 54, was hired to a six-year, $50 million contract. He replaces Hubert Davis, who was fired after five seasons as the successor to retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. Malone spent the last 10 years as the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, leading them to the 2023 NBA championship. He was fired by the Nuggets last spring with less than a week left in the regular season.

  • Malone was hired on April 8, 2026.
  • He was fired by the Denver Nuggets last spring, less than a week before the end of the 2025-26 NBA regular season.

The players

Michael Malone

The new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. Malone is an NBA championship-winning coach who spent the last 12 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, including a 10-year run with the Denver Nuggets.

Hubert Davis

The former head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, who was fired after five seasons on the job.

Roy Williams

The retired Hall of Fame head coach who led the Tar Heels for 36 seasons before retiring in 2021.

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What they’re saying

“I did not play here. I'm not from Carolina. But I think they're ready to embrace somebody new. A new vision to try to get this program back to where we all want it to be.”

— Michael Malone, New North Carolina Head Coach

“Coach Malone was the first coach we called and the first coach we talked to. And we ended in the right place.”

— Steve Newmark, Executive Associate Athletic Director, University of North Carolina

What’s next

Malone will now begin assembling his coaching staff and recruiting players to help turn around the Tar Heels program. His first season as head coach will be closely watched as he looks to restore North Carolina to its place among the elite college basketball programs.

The takeaway

North Carolina's decision to hire an NBA champion coach in Michael Malone represents a significant shift from the program's tradition of keeping the head coaching job within the 'Carolina Family'. Malone's hiring signals a desire for a fresh perspective and new vision to revive the storied Tar Heels basketball program.