michael malone unc has shown up in the chatter around North Carolina’s coaching search, but for now the Tar Heels are focused on one big name: Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan.
UNC fired Hubert Davis nearly two weeks ago and the transfer portal opens Tuesday, yet the school still hasn’t settled on a replacement. What’s striking is how many top targets have already stepped away — a reminder that being North Carolina doesn’t guarantee easy recruiting in an era driven by the transfer portal, NIL and shifting revenue models.
Tommy Lloyd and Dusty May, two of the early favorites, removed themselves from consideration over the weekend while coaching in the Final Four. That left Donovan, the two-time national champion at Florida, as the top remaining candidate people briefed on the search say. He’s 60 and hasn’t coached in college in more than a decade, but he’s taken the UNC interest seriously enough to talk staff and personnel in preliminary conversations.
Still, Donovan is not a sure thing. A key hurdle is his wish to stay with the Bulls through the NBA regular season end on April 12 — five days after the portal opens — which could hamstring recruiting and roster-building at Chapel Hill. Industry chatter also suggests he may explore other NBA openings this summer, so waiting for him could leave UNC exposed if he ultimately chooses a different path.
Insiders say Donovan has already discussed potential assistants, including some people who worked with him at Florida and at least one active college aide he didn’t previously know. UNC boosters figure his college success and NBA résumé would make it easier to attract talent, but that still wouldn’t erase the timing problem tied to the portal.
If Donovan passes or pursues another pro opportunity, North Carolina has a second tier of targets. Names mentioned include Mark Byington, Ben McCollum, T. J. Otzelberger, Scott Drew, Josh Schertz and former Denver coach Michael Malone. Some of those options have their own constraints — for example, Byington recently signed an extension at Vanderbilt and reportedly faces a sizable buyout — so how many would seriously take the UNC job remains unclear.
In short, the search is active and messy. UNC’s brand is powerful, but the mechanics of modern roster construction and tight timelines have turned what should be a headline hire into a careful, high-stakes chess match.
