North Carolina is making headlines as ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Tuesday that the Tar Heels are parting ways with head coach Hubert Davis.
“Hubert Davis will not return as North Carolina’s head coach, per Jeff Borzello and me, Thamel wrote Tuesday on X. “He’s spent the last five years as the head coach of the Tar Heels, compiling a 125-54 record. UNC reached the national title game in his first year there.”
Now that North Carolina will be looking for a new head coach, here are a few names it should consider hiring.
Billy Donovan
Donovan hasn’t been part of college basketball since the 2014-15 season, when he coached at Florida. He then took the head coaching position with the Oklahoma City Thunder before leading the Chicago Bulls in 2020.
The Bulls don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, and Donovan might consider leaving Chicago to return to college coaching. He led the Gators to back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, and he would be a great fit for the Tar Heels if he’s open to reuniting with the college game.
Brad Stevens
Stevens is another potential coaching candidate who hasn’t been involved in college sports for quite some time, yet he has achieved significant success in the field. He coached Butler from 2007 to 2013 before taking the helm as head coach of the Boston Celtics, later transitioning to the role of President of Basketball Operations for the team.
The 49-year-old coach had a remarkable tenure at Butler, leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back championship appearances in 2010 and 2011. However, he seems quite content in his current role with the Celtics, making it unlikely that he will leave Boston anytime soon.
T. J. Otzelberger
Iowa State head coach T. J. Otzelberger could be the best fit for the Tar Heels. Otzelberger has been with the Cyclones for five seasons, has won over 20 games four times, and is currently in the Sweet 16.
While Otzelberger has found considerable success at Iowa State, taking on the role at North Carolina presents an entirely different challenge. If the Tar Heels come calling, it would be tough for him to turn down such an opportunity.
Todd Golden
Florida’s head coach, Todd Golden, could be an intriguing candidate for the Tar Heels. After leading the Gators to a title last season, it would be a challenge for North Carolina to lure him away from Florida, especially since he has already demonstrated his ability to win at the highest level. However, if the Tar Heels come calling with a lucrative offer that he can’t resist, it might just be enough to convince him to leave Gainesville.
Mark Byington
Byington may not be a name that casual college basketball fans are familiar with, but he has done an impressive job at Vanderbilt over the past two years. With a 47-22 record, Byington has quickly proven his ability to build a strong program. Previously, he had great success at James Madison, leading it to the NCAA tournament before moving to Vanderbilt. It would be interesting to see what he could accomplish at North Carolina.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post 5 Coaches North Carolina Should Target After Reportedly Moving On From Hubert Davis appeared first on Heavy Sports.