Michael Malone signs $50M deal to coach UNC basketball
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- Michael Malone was introduced as UNC's next head men's basketball coach at a news conference on Tuesday, after attending practices six months earlier as an outsider.
- UNC offered Malone a six‑year, $50 million contract, placing him among the highest‑paid coaches in college basketball.
- Michael Malone brings 510 NBA career wins, six playoff appearances and a 2023 NBA championship, but has never been a college head coach; his last college assistant role was at Manhattan in 2001.
- Steve Newmark, UNC's executive associate athletic director, said Malone's track record justifies the $50 million compensation.
- Bubba Cunningham, outgoing athletic director, announced that UNC will begin moving its national‑championship banners to make room for a future title under Malone.
- Hubert Davis, former UNC coach, was fired after a 125‑54 record and a first‑round NCAA tournament collapse, and Malone described the transition as “bittersweet.”
- Michael Malone said he will hire assistants with strong college contacts worldwide to help recruit top talent while honoring tradition and innovating.
Why it matters: UNC secures a coach with NBA championship pedigree and a $50 million, six‑year contract, positioning the program to chase another national title while committing massive payroll resources; the move ends Hubert Davis's tenure and raises expectations for immediate success and signals a new era of high‑stakes investment in college basketball.
