Sources: UNC's Malone top five in coaches' salary
Why it matters: UNC's $8.3M+ annual investment in Michael Malone signals a major shift in college basketball coaching salaries.
- North Carolina is set to pay new head coach Michael Malone an average of more than $8.3 million yearly over a six-year contract, making him one of the top five highest-paid coaches in the sport, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
- WRAL News in Raleigh was the first to report Malone's substantial salary.
- Malone, an NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets and a coach with 510 wins in 12 seasons, will inherit a Tar Heels team that has been seeking a head coaching replacement for nearly two weeks since firing Hubert Davis.
- Executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark praised Malone as a "brilliant coach" who will bring a "modern and disciplined approach" to the program, crucial in the current college athletics landscape.
- Athletic director Bubba Cunningham highlighted Malone's proven ability to build "strong, successful teams" and coach NBA players, which is what Tar Heels players aspire to be.
North Carolina has officially hired former NBA champion coach Michael Malone to lead its men's basketball program, securing him with a six-year contract worth over $8.3 million annually, placing him among the top five highest-paid coaches in the sport, as confirmed by ESPN's Pete Thamel and first reported by WRAL News. This significant investment brings an NBA champion tactician to Chapel Hill, tasked with continuing UNC's storied championship legacy after a two-week search following Hubert Davis's firing.
