UNC Hires Mike Malone

[Inyatkin]

This might work out great but it also might not. And that's the problem. UNC should be one of those jobs where they go after a "no doubt" candidate. They shouldn't have to take a flier on anyone.

I think those days are over. Kentucky couldn’t get that, UNC didn’t. Kansas will face this soon enough. Would be very interesting to see who Duke could get if there was ever an opening

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Who you got? Jon Scheyer vs Mike Malone? LOL. No brainer

I actually like Jon Scheyer, and my dream scenario is for Duke to fire him soon and then he has great success somewhere else.

 

[Orange]

I am warming up on this pick. Malone wasn’t a great pro game coach, but he will blow away most college coaches. The reason most college coaches fail in the NBA is they can’t game plan at the same level in part because college players couldn’t handle more sophisticated schemes. College rosters are older and more experienced now. They can handle more than they used to.

This could work for UNC.

Plus almost all of the NBA coaches in college had gotten fired from the NBA, and although Malone also got fired from the NBA, he was a pretty unusually successful coach to get fired.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think those days are over. Kentucky couldn’t get that, UNC didn’t. Kansas will face this soon enough. Would be very interesting to see who Duke could get if there was ever an opening

Pitino is right. "Blue Bloods" doesn't matter.

 

[gtcam]

I actually like Jon Scheyer, and my dream scenario is for Duke to fire him soon and then he has great success somewhere else.

not as long as Coach K is still breathing

 

[WhereistheDove?]

He is a terrific coach

Regardless of if he’s successful or not, he was not close to the top of their list. That’s my point. And he’s a big risk in the current college game with his lack of relevant college coaching experience.

 

[uh-no]

not as long as Coach K is still breathing

they're drawing top classes and 3 straight elite 8 (with 1 FF). He's not going anywhere anytime soon....as entitled as some fans may be: MBB: Connecticut 73, Duke 72 (NCAA Elite 8 -- March 29, 2026) Postgame Thread

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

It’s a name I guess

One I never heard off, though I don't follow the NBA other than the UConn guys.

 

[uchusky32]

She’s getting $100 for referral.

 

[aceboon]

If UNC buys Illinois’ primary Balkans talent buyer, Orlando Antigua, that would be a heckuva gut shot to the Illini.

don't need to have Antigua, Malone can work with Misko directly

 

[pj]

Track record of NBA players/coaches becoming college coaches is quite bad.

But college ball has recently become pro ball.

 

[Fan1978]

It is completely a pro model. Recruiting doesn’t matter, and talent evaluation is a lot easier, more assessment than projection.

Plus nobody wanted the job. How times have changed

 

[UConnJim]

Regardless of if he’s successful or not, he was not close to the top of their list. That’s my point. And he’s a big risk in the current college game with his lack of relevant college coaching experience.

I don't think it's a risk for UNC. He did coach 6 years in college including 3 at Providence, although it was along time ago, he has name recognition, and he knows how to coach basketball. And, I'm sure he will hire a good group of assistant coaches to help with the transition to college. With NIL and the portal, traditional high school recruiting is not as important anymore. Plus, North Carolina has a great campus, great facilities, active alums, tradition, ...

 

[Waquoit]

If UNC buys Illinois’ primary Balkans talent buyer, Orlando Antigua, that would be a heckuva gut shot to the Illini.

Was he the guy that wore one sock up and one sock down?

 

[HooperScooper]

I was thinking Jordon would get it...no not Michael Jordan. I think she could recruit pretty effectively if she tried.

She's already running the football program at UNC. You expect her to handle the basketball team also?

 

[HuskyHawk]

I am warming up on this pick. Malone wasn’t a great pro game coach, but he will blow away most college coaches. The reason most college coaches fail in the NBA is they can’t game plan at the same level in part because college players couldn’t handle more sophisticated schemes. College rosters are older and more experienced now. They can handle more than they used to.

This could work for UNC.

The reports I saw all described his system as a better fit for college than the NBA. This could be a pretty good hire. I get the messaging that UNC didn't get its first choice, but the top guys they might have wanted are at UConn, Arizona, Michigan and Florida. Plus the Celtics' GM. UNC isn't actually a better job than any of those, not in 2026. They could definitely have lured a lesser name but decided to go this way.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I don't think it's a risk for UNC. He did coach 6 years in college including 3 at Providence, although it was along time ago, he has name recognition, and he knows how to coach basketball. And, I'm sure he will hire a good group of assistant coaches to help with the transition to college. With NIL and the portal, traditional high school recruiting is not as important anymore. Plus, North Carolina has a great campus, great facilities, active alums, tradition, ...

It may work out but hiring a guy that hasn’t worked in the college game in 25 years (and has no college HC experience) and has never worked in the current state of the college game is definitely a risk.

 

[Dove]

Was expecting Steve Belichick to get this gig.

Malone is a puppet.

 

[gsmooth]

The reports I saw all described his system as a better fit for college than the NBA. This could be a pretty good hire. I get the messaging that UNC didn't get its first choice, but the top guys they might have wanted are at UConn, Arizona, Michigan and Florida. Plus the Celtics' GM. UNC isn't actually a better job than any of those, not in 2026. They could definitely have lured a lesser name but decided to go this way.

People are incorrectly saying there not many coaches that don't want to coach at North Carolina due to this hiring cycle. There are tons of coaches or assistant coaches that would jump at the chance of coaching at North Carolina. What's really the case is that the overlap between everyone that would jump at the chance of coaching at North Carolina and who North Carolina actually wants coaching them is small. The coaches at UConn, Arizona, Michigan, and Florida are in great situations and have no reason to even consider North Carolina.

 

[TheChamps990411]

That is a dumb hire. The NBA is nothing like cbb. Its a no win hire. If he fails theyre back to square one. If hes mediocre, theyre back to square one. If he has big success hes off to the NBA and theyre back to square one.

 

[EnochRoot]

The Athletic reported that UNC didn’t want to wait for Billy Donovan to finish the season coaching the Chicago Bulls before he’d consider the offer.

I mean, I see why they pivoted, but man, that looks like a pennywise, pound foolish decision.

Billy Donovan at UNC could’ve been huge.

 

[superjohn]

Weird hire. Doubt it works.

 

[GHSWolverines]

First Belichick. Now Malone.
UNC doubling down on the pro coach model.

And how did it work for their football team

 

[gsmooth]

Weird hire. Doubt it works.

I don't know if this will work or not, but it's a rushed hire to get done before the transfer portal officially opens tomorrow.

 

[GampelGladiator]

They had to hire quickly to keep their commits locked in...oh wait..

UNC Basketball Recruiting: Mike Malone Faces Major Hurdle As 5-Star Recruit Decommits Amid Tar Heels Hiring | College Sports Network