Jason Burgos
When Hubert Davis made his head coaching debut with North Carolina in 2021-22 and took them to the NCAA Tournament final, it looked like the school had found the man to oversee the program for the next decade. However, the Tar Heels didn’t even make the tournament the following season, and have been ousted in the opening round the last two years.
It’s why ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that the coach’s future is currently “in flux.” The basketball insider claims a decision won’t come until next week, but at the very least, the entire staff under Davis will be out. If North Carolina were to go with a total overhaul and move on from Davis, let’s look at six replacement options for, arguably, the best job in college basketball.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
