UNC Hires Former NBA Coach Michael Malone After Firing Hubert Davis
The University of North Carolina hired former NBA coach Michael Malone as its new basketball coach two weeks after firing Hubert Davis. Malone previously coached in the NBA for many years, including with the Denver Nuggets.
The University of North Carolina officially hired Michael Malone as its new men's basketball coach, sources confirmed to ESPN. The move comes two weeks after the school fired Hubert Davis.
Malone brings extensive NBA coaching experience to Chapel Hill. He spent years coaching professional teams, including the Denver Nuggets, giving him a different background than most college coaches.
The hiring is being called stunning by sports analysts because UNC typically chooses coaches with strong college basketball ties. The Tar Heels are one of the most successful programs in college basketball history.
Davis was let go after his tenure as head coach ended. UNC moved quickly to find his replacement, settling on Malone despite his lack of college coaching experience.
The decision represents a major shift for the program as they try to return to championship-level play.
This is a surprising move for one of college basketball's most famous programs. UNC has traditionally hired coaches with college experience, making Malone's NBA background unusual for the Tar Heels.
Malone will begin preparing for the upcoming college basketball season and recruiting players to UNC.
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