Former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has been named North Carolina’s new head coach in a move that comes as a surprise, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
UNC had been pursuing a high-profile replacement after firing Hubert Davis. Final Four coaches Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May were among the preferred options but both chose to stay at their schools.
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan was also viewed as a top candidate, per The Athletic’s Brendan Marks, making Malone’s hiring unexpected.
Malone, 54, is the winningest coach in Nuggets history with a 471-327 record and led Denver to its first NBA championship in 2023.
He had recently been working as an ESPN analyst and was expected to receive interest from NBA teams, but instead chose to move to the college level.
In his Sunday column, Marc Stein reported that the Bulls would like to retain Donovan, who received a multi-year extension after the Knicks were denied permission to talk to him about their head coaching vacancy last summer.
Donovan reportedly wanted to wait until after the season concluded on Sunday to meet with the Tar Heels but North Carolina decided to pivot to Malone.
With UNC no longer an option, Donovan may now be more likely to remain with the Bulls.
Former Nuggets Coach Michael Malone Headed To North Carolina https://t.co/lCSt13UVTM pic.twitter.com/E9Kl5TH23a
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 6, 2026
