Long-time NBA coach Michael Malone has been announced as the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Malone spent ten seasons as the head coach of the Denver Nuggets (2015-25), leading the team to a NBA championship title in 2023.
“Michael was the first coach we engaged with as part of the search process because of his reputation as a selfless teacher and innovator who brings an incredible ability to connect with players and get the absolute best out of those he mentors,” said Steve Newmark, who will take over for Bubba Cunningham as AD this summer. “He is a brilliant coach who will deliver a modern and disciplined approach to leading our men’s basketball program, which is critical in the current landscape of college athletics. Carolina basketball is unique and special – and we have hired a leader well-suited to continuing our championship tradition.”
This will not be the first college job, nor the first stop in the ACC for Malone, who spent time at Oakland (1994-95), Providence (1995-98), Virginia (1998-99) and Manhattan (1999-2001) before moving on to the NBA ranks and the New York Knicks in 2001. Over his time in the league, he worked with stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Nikola Jokic, Chris Paul, Jamal Murray, Stephon Marbury and many others. He also worked alongside his father, the late Brendan Malone, who was an NBA and NCAA head coach, as well.
Malone has a total record of 554-430 in the regular season and playoffs as head coach of the Nuggets and Sacramento Kings (2013-14). He won three Northwest Division titles in Denver and reached the postseason in six-straight years, highlighted by the title run in 2023. Jokic won three MVP awards (2021, 2022 and 2024) with Malone as his head coach.
“Carolina is one of the most historic programs in college basketball, and I am honored to be the head coach of the Tar Heels,” Malone said. “It is humbling to follow so many legends in Chapel Hill. I know from the many Tar Heels in the NBA how special the Carolina Basketball Family is, and I will do everything I can to continue UNC’s championship legacy while preparing our players for professional careers and life after basketball. I offer my thanks to Chancellor Roberts, Steve and Bubba, the Board of Trustees and the search committee. I am proud to be a Tar Heel and can’t wait to get started.”
North Carolina parted ways with Hubert Davis earlier this month after the Tar Heels had another disappointing finish to the season, getting upset by 11-seed VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It was Davis’ fifth season at the helm after nine years on Roy Williams’ staff, a tenure that started incredibly high before consistently under-achieving. His first team in 2021-22 reached the NCAA Tournament final as an 8-seed, holding a half-time lead over #1 Kansas before running out of gas and coming up short. The following year, however, the team had the unfortunate distinction of being the first modern pre-season AP #1 team to completely miss the NCAA Tournament. The Heels bounced back and won the ACC in 2024 and earned a top seed, but only reached the Sweet 16 that year and followed that up with two Round of 64 exits.
credit to North Carolina Athletics for the image