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UNC basketball coach search
UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis coached the Tar Heels for five seasons but was let go from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after they were defeated in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Here’s ongoing coverage of Davis’ firing and the search for his replacement.
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UNC fired Hubert Davis a week ago after a three-game losing streak to end the season and a second straight first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament.
The leadership change truly opens up one of college basketball’s premier jobs for the first time in decades as North Carolina is preparing to hire outside the “Carolina Family” — thus breaking up a streak of hires that goes back to Dean Smith’s hiring in 1961.
The search, overseen by UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham and incoming AD Steve Newmark, will also be assisted by executive search firm TurnkeyZRG and consultant Chad Chatlos. The school has said it will also rely on an advisory group of former players, coaches and key stakeholders.
While N.C. State’s search process has already come and gone — with the Wolfpack closing in on Justin Gainey on Monday to replace the one-and-done Will Wade — UNC fans will likely have to wait a while longer to learn who will take over the helm in Chapel Hill.
UNC’s top candidates
Several top candidates are still actively coaching. That includes Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Michigan’s Dusty May, both of whom will be focused on winning a national title in Indianapolis this weekend. The Wolverines and Wildcats will face off in the Final Four on Saturday, April 4, with tipoff set for approximately 8:49 p.m. The winner will move on to the championship game, which takes place Monday, April 6, at 8:30 p.m.
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, who won back-to-back national championships in 2006-07 at Florida and took the Gators to four Final Fours, is also considered a top candidate, a source confirmed to the N&O. The Bulls’ season ends April 12.
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan talks during a time out in the first half of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 5, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Christian Petersen Getty Images
These timelines, when squared with the opening of the transfer portal window at midnight on Tuesday, April 7, present a bit of a squeeze. Still, the priority for UNC is securing the best candidate — even if the time frame of the hiring and this year’s portal isn’t ideal.
“Ultimately, I think for us to do right by the Carolina family, we have to make sure we get the best candidate possible — the one who can lead us for years to come and have us competing for national championships on an annual basis,” Newmark said on a March 25 episode of the Carolina Insider podcast.
The good news? The transfer portal is open for two weeks after its April 7 start date. UNC general manager Jim Tanner continues to be involved, as well as assistant coach Sean May and director of operations Eric Hoots, in meeting with the Tar Heel players as they weigh options for the upcoming year and await news of, should they stay, who their new coach will be.
The bad news? Any head coaching move will come with a pretty hefty price tag.
Buyouts will be a factor
Davis is owed approximately $5.3 million in buyout compensation per the details of his contract. UNC has stated it will follow these terms.
Davis’ total compensation this past season was $3.85 million, which doesn’t crack the top 25 list of most highly compensated men’s basketball coaches nationally, according to data compiled by USA Today.
Considering UNC’s willingness to go all-chips-in with its bet on Bill Belichick and North Carolina football, as well as the role donors played in Davis’ ousting, it’s safe to say the university won’t spare much when it comes to investing in the future of its flagship sports program.
That includes some hefty prices when it comes to the buyouts of potential coaching candidates.
Dusty May’s buyout is $7 million until April 30 and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has said keeping May in Ann Arbor is a top priority, per The Detroit News.
Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts against Tennessee during the second half in the teams’ Elite Eight game at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Michael Reaves Getty Images
“My hope is that Dusty is our coach for a long time and continues to do the great work he’s doing, and I will do everything in my power to support him being in that position,” Manuel told The Detroit News’ Angelique S. Chengelis on Saturday.
Tommy Lloyd’s buyout is even steeper, dropping from $11 million to $9 million on April 1, per the Arizona Daily Star. The outlet also reported Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois as stating she would do “everything possible” to keep Lloyd as the Wildcats’ head coach past this season.
“The sun may be shining on this team and on me coaching it right now, but when it’s shining on you, you got to fight like hell to protect it and build it,” Lloyd said in San Jose on Saturday after his team advanced to the Final Four. “So that’s what I feel like my number one responsibility is — to fight to protect the program and fight to build it for those who came before me and for those that are going to follow after me. Because Arizona is going to have another good coach after me. I promise you. The place is special.”
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd gestures during the second half against Long Island University in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. Sean M. Haffey Getty Images
Who else is in the running?
While Lloyd, May and Donovan remain top candidates, UNC’s search process is more expansive than said top-tier list.
Candidates like Vanderbilt’s Mark Byington and Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland remain in the mix, a source confirmed to the N&O.
Both are considered among the top young coaches in the sport, but also have barriers for any potential hiring.
On Saturday, Vanderbilt announced a contract extension for Byington, who became the first head coach in program history to win 20 or more games in each of his first two seasons.
“Across athletics, our new era is just getting started, and I look forward to Mark and our men’s basketball team helping to lead the way,” said Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee in a statement released Saturday.
McCasland’s buyout is reportedly north of $10 million, per ESPN and other outlets. And that’s before you factor in the ramifications of any potential bidding war, which would pit North Carolina against the same oil money boosters who helped build a football juggernaut in Lubbock, Texas.
This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
Shelby Swanson
The News & Observer
Shelby Swanson covers UNC sports for The News & Observer.
