NBA: Reports link UNC search to Billy Donovan, Michael Malone

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding North Carolina’s search for a new men’s basketball coach, linking the program to NBA coaches Billy Donovan and Michael Malone.

The Field of 68 reported Sunday that the Tar Heels were focused “solely” on Donovan, the current Chicago Bulls coach who led Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007.

However, ESPN reported Monday that North Carolina intends to hire Malone, who won an NBA championship in 2025 with the Denver Nuggets but has never served as a collegiate head coach.

Donovan, 60, previously coached in college, compiling a 467-186 record with Florida from 1996 to 2015. In the NBA, he is 224-253 with the Bulls (29-48 this season) after going 243-157 with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020.

Malone, 54, has been working as a studio analyst for ABC/ESPN this season after being fired by the Nuggets on April 8, 2025. He owns a career record of 510-394 as the head coach of Denver (2015-25) and the Sacramento Kings (2013-14). Before that, he served as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks.

In college, Malone was an assistant coach at Manhattan (1999-2001), Providence (1995-98), and Oakland (1994-95).

North Carolina parted ways with Hubert Davis after a first-round loss to VCU in last month’s NCAA Tournament.

Other potential candidates, including Michigan’s Dusty May and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, have reportedly decided to remain at their current programs.

-Field Level Media/Reuters