Jason Burgos
It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when Hubert Davis led North Carolina to the Final Four in his debut season. It made him look like the man to guide the program for the next decade. However, the 55-year-old has delivered mixed results since, including failing to reach the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and getting eliminated in the opening round the last two seasons.
His latest opening round ouster, an upset loss to VCU last week, ended up being the last straw with school officials, and on Tuesday night, North Carolina let Davis know his services will no longer be needed at the university.
Now, one of the best basketball jobs in the nation is open and will surely draw interest from all over the coaching spectrum. With that in mind, let’s look at 10 individuals who should be on UNC’s radar as they begin their search for Hubert Davis’ replacement.
Brad Underwood, Illinois
While it took some time, Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a legit force in a stacked Big Ten. They have won 20 or more wins in each of the last seven seasons, went 25-8 in 2025-26, and the coach has a couple of conference tourney championships on his resume. Underwood has done a lot with a second-tier school in the conference. With UNC’s resources and brand recognition, he could get the consistent results the program is looking for.
Todd Golden, Florida
North Carolina’s dream target would be Florida head coach Todd Golden. After a notable run legitimizing San Francisco, the coach has made an immediate impact on the Gators. In his third season, he led the program to a national title, and after a bumpy start to the 2025-26 season has them in position to repeat this month.
What also makes him extremely attractive is that he is only 40 years old. The big question is, would he feel UNC offers a better job than what he has currently in Gainesville? Many around the country feel it would.
Nate Oats, Alabama
You can bet that Alabama head coach Nate Oats will be among the candidates for the UNC job. Outside of a rough rebuilding year in his first season, Oats has taken the Crimson Tide to the tournament in six straight seasons, including a Sweet 16 birth this month.
Oats had made ‘Bama a powerhouse in the SEC. However, no matter what they do, the basketball program will always be secondary to football in Tuscaloosa. However, in Chapel Hill, Oats would be the top coach at a major college with a storied history.
Michael Malone, Former Nuggets Head Coach
A couple of years ago, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was seen as one of the best in the NBA. He developed Denver into a consistent title contender, helped Nikola Jokic’s rise to superstar status, and got the Nuggets their first championship in 2023. However, a difference of opinion with the front office led to his surprising ouster late last season.
After the way he was fired in 2024, Malone could have soured on the NBA experience and the big personalities involved on and off the court. Bringing in a recent NBA title-winning coach would be a coup for UNC. The only issue is whether his lack of college experience leads to just as messy a situation as the school has in football with Bill Belichick?
Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
Since becoming the head coach at Arizona six years ago, Tommy Floyd has done nothing but win, and at a high level. He has led the Wildcats to a pair of 30-plus win seasons (34 in 2025-26 so far) and four trips to the Sweet 16, including this month.
Arizona is a major program, but it is still a tier below North Carolina. The Tar Heels’ resources matched with Floyd’s obvious talent could lead to many Final Four trips in the years ahead. After Golden, Floyd will be the next top choice of UNC officials.
TJ Otzelberger, Iowa State
Since arriving at Iowa State five years ago, TJ Otzelberger has done nothing but win and get the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament every year. Furthermore, he has his team in a position as a dark horse to reach the championship game this month.
Similar to Brad Underwood at Illinois, if given the resources that North Carolina has, Otzelberger could get the program back to being a consistent contender to reach the Elite 8 every year.
Billy Donovan, Bulls
Billy Donovan has been a rock-solid coach in the NBA, but he was the best coach in the country during his legendary run at Florida. The 60-year-old is pretty entrenched in his job for the Chicago Bulls, but if there was any opening that could draw the two-time champion back to college basketball, North Carolina would definitely be one of them. Furthermore, you can bet UNC officials will at least check in to see if the man who went to the Final Four on four occasions would have any interest in a return to the college ranks in 2026.
Mark Few, Gonzaga
Mark Few is the greatest coach in Gonzaga history and turned the program into a recognized name in college basketball during a legendary 26-year tenure. He is the king of the mid-majors, and there have always been rumblings about making the jump to a top program. But he has a good thing with the Bulldogs, and nothing has come along worth leaving that behind.
However, North Carolina is one of the few programs that would seriously make him consider leaving Spokane. Furthermore, it would give him his best chance of achieving the one thing he hasn’t yet: Winning a national championship.
Jerry Stackhouse, Warriors
While he had an underwhelming run as the head coach of Vanderbilt from 2019 to 2024, Tar Heels great Jerry Stackhouse will likely get consideration for UNC’s head coach opening. One of the program’s best players returning to get them back to the Final Four would be a great story. But beyond that, the two-time All-Star is a worthy candidate.
Stackhouse has been the head coach of the Toronto Raptors G-League team, as well as an assistant for Toronto, the Memphis Grizzlies, and currently the Golden State Warriors. He may not be a favorite to replace Hubert Davis, but he should be among the many candidates.
Tom Thibodeau, Former Knicks Head Coach
While he has never won an NBA title or reached the finals, Tom Thibodeau has consistently been one of the better coaches in the NBA for much of the last 15 years. He proved that by bringing the New York Knicks back to relevance during this decade and getting them to the conference finals last season. Unfortunately, the high standard he created and the franchise’s decades-long title drought led to his unfair firing last spring.
Like Malone, he could be done with coaching in the NBA and may be open to a jump to the college ranks to have total control over a program. The 68-year-old has always been a workaholic and would dive headfirst into the roster-building process while creating a gritty culture for the program.
