North Carolina intends to hire former NBA head coach for vacancy, per report
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North Carolina has settled on its next head coach, according to a report.
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Tar Heels intend to hire former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone for the vacancy. Malone led the Nuggets to the NBA Championship in 2023 but was fired near the end of the 2024-25 season.
Malone would succeed Hubert Davis in Chapel Hill, taking over one of college basketball’s most-desirable head coaching jobs:
This is surprising development as Malone’s name had not been publicly linked to the job. Malone also has very little experience at the collegiate level. He was previously an assistant at Manhattan, Providence and Oakland prior to beginning his NBA coaching career. His most recent stint at Manhattan ended in 2001.
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He’s the son of Brendan Malone, who made his name as an NBA head coach as well but spent time in college basketball before joining the pro ranks. Most notably, his father was an assistant at Syracuse from 1978-84 before becoming the head coach at Rhode Island for 2 seasons.
Michael Malone was well-respected as an NBA head coach prior to his firing in 2025. He was let go along with then-general manager Calvin Booth amid a dispute.
He’ll take over a North Carolina program that’s reeling following its first-round NCAA Tournament exit. Malone will have to get started right away, as the transfer portal officially opens up on Tuesday.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
