Hubert Davis buyout: How much North Carolina owes fired head coach
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Hubert Davis and North Carolina parted ways on Tuesday. Although it was officially termed a “leadership change” by university staff, it was reportedly a firing, per ESPN.
UNC stated that it would “honor the terms of Davis’ contract” after his departure. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, that amounts to about $5.3 million.
Davis’ initial contract as the Tar Heels’ head coach was for five seasons and was worth $9.75 million. His base salary during the initial term was $400,000, but with supplemental compensation of $600,000 that would increase by $100,000 annually. That didn’t include $250,000 a year from Nike, the university’s official apparel partner, and $500,000 a year from Learfield, which owns North Carolina’s multimedia rights.
In Feb. 2025, Davis received a contract extension through 2030, upping his annual base salary to $1.25 million. His annual supplemental compensation jumped to $1.7 million, still increasing by $100,000 annually. Davis would also receive bonuses dependent on the team’s performance, including $100,000 for an NCAA Tournament bid and a quarter-million for a national championship.
In five seasons as North Carolina’s head coach, Davis went 125-54. His best season came in 2021-22, his first at the helm of the program after Roy Williams’ retirement. That year, the Tar Heels advanced to the national championship.
The next season, they missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 despite being ranked No. 1 in the preseason polls. After a Sweet 16 appearance in 2023-24, the Heels fell in the first round of the tournament in back-to-back seasons, leading UNC to make a change.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
