Hubert Davis is out after five seasons in Chapel Hill. Here are names expected to be on the short list.
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Who's next at UNC? Potential candidates to replace Hubert Davis, their priorities
Hubert Davis is out at North Carolina, just five days after the Tar Heels' catastrophic collapse against VCU. After entering the season on the hot seat, a signature win against Duke in February and a 24-8 record seemed to have kept Davis safe from dismissal after entering the NCAA tournament as a 6-seed.
Especially given the season-ending injury to star forward Caleb Wilson, all signs pointed to Davis returning to Chapel Hill regardless of what happened in March. Then the Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead to 11-seed VCU in the second half of their first-round game, with Davis mismanaging down the stretch of regulation.
Davis' head coaching tenure at Carolina comes to an end after five seasons, a stretch that included a national championship game appearance in 2022 and an ACC regular-season championship in 2024.
So what's next in Chapel Hill?
When Roy Williams retired in 2021, the job was perceived to be among the best in the entire sport. After an up-and-down half decade, the question is whether that's still the case. Industry sources still consider Carolina to be the same elite, blue-blood destination it was when Davis took the helm in 2021.
"I think there's plenty of money if they want," one source told ESPN. "The history, the tradition, the facilities. No doubt it's still [at the top]. It's North Carolina."
"It's still Carolina, man," another said. "It's the brand."
The position comes with challenges this time, though. Longtime athletic director Bubba Cunningham is leaving his post this summer and will be succeeded by former NASCAR executive Steve Newmark. The department also faces the question of whether to renovate the Dean Smith Center or move the basketball team elsewhere. And with Bill Belichick in town, the football program is getting its fair share of resources -- and attention.
Let's take a look at which candidates could be on the radar, plus what they would be inheriting.
Who is up next?
When Williams retired, North Carolina opted to keep it in the family, promoting Davis to the top job after nine seasons on Williams' staff. Davis, of course, also played for the program under Dean Smith from 1988 to 1992. It's unlikely the school will select another former Tar Heel this time.
Expect Carolina to take some massive swings.
Billy Donovan is expected to be at or near the top of the list. The Chicago Bulls head coach hasn't coached at the college level since 2015, spending the past 11 years with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2015-20) and Bulls (since 2020). He has rejected opportunities to return to college before, but he could be more open to the idea now that the Bulls are going to miss the playoffs. He led Florida to two national championships (2006 and 2007) and took the Gators to two additional Final Fours (2000 and 2014). One complicating issue with Donovan would be timing; the Bulls' last game is April 12.
Brad Stevens also wouldn't be a surprising target. The Boston Celtics president of operations hasn't coached at the college level since 2013, or in any capacity since 2021. But he led Butler to back-to-back national title game appearances in 2010 and 2011, then made seven trips to the NBA playoffs at the helm of the Celtics before transitioning into the front office in 2021.
Industry insiders also believe the best of the best in the college ranks are likely on the short list: 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 could also be in the conversation. The Tar Heels could even gauge interest from UConn's
Dan Hurley, like Kentucky (and the Lakers) did a couple of years ago.
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Just sayin': I think they should go for Dusty May.....
