North Carolina is expected to aggressively pursue Billy Donovan following Hubert Davis’ firing, sources told Jeff Borzello of ESPN. Davis was dismissed after the Tar Heels’ first-round NCAA tournament loss to VCU, a collapse from a 19-point lead that ended his five-year tenure.
Donovan, 61, has not coached at the college level since 2015 but led Florida to two national championships in 2006 and 2007 and reached two additional Final Fours in 2000 and 2014. He has spent the last 11 years in the NBA, coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020 and the Chicago Bulls since 2020.
The Bulls are missing the playoffs this season, which could make Donovan more open to returning to college. Timing is a factor, as Chicago’s season concludes on April 12, meaning any transition to Chapel Hill would occur immediately after.
North Carolina may also consider Brad Stevens, former Butler coach and Celtics executive, as well as top college candidates such as Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty May, Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger, Florida’s Todd Golden, and Alabama’s Nate Oats. Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland and UConn’s Dan Hurley could also be options.
Buyouts for top candidates vary widely, with Lloyd and Oats’ contracts exceeding $10 million, while May and Otzelberger carry smaller buyouts, making the financial structure a key factor in the selection process.
The Tar Heels finished the 2025-26 season as a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament with a 24-8 record and an ACC regular-season performance highlighted by a signature win over Duke. Injuries, including a season-ending loss of forward Caleb Wilson, contributed to the team’s early exit from March Madness.
North Carolina’s pursuit of Donovan would mark a major hire in college basketball, pairing a proven championship-winning coach with a program seeking to return to national prominence. The school is expected to move quickly once the NBA season ends.
