NBA head coach named ideal fit for UNC basketball vacancy

by March 25, 2026

written by March 25, 2026

NBA head coach named ideal fit for UNC basketball vacancy

UNC fired Hubert Davis after four years as head coach of the men’s basketball program. The decision came on the heels of another disappointing NCAA Tournament showing. The Tar Heels entered as a No. 6 seed but fell 82-78 to No. 11 VCU in the opening round.

That loss reportedly sealed Davis’s fate. He exits Chapel Hill with a 125-54 overall record. The search for his replacement is already underway, and the names being floated around carry serious weight.

MORE: UNC basketball makes final decision on head coach Hubert Davis

One candidate generating considerable buzz is Billy Donovan, currently the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. The fact that his name has entered the conversation says plenty about the kind of splash UNC might be trying to make.

UNC could target Billy Donovan for major coaching hire

Donovan’s potential candidacy was discussed during a recent ESPN segment on ‘Unsportmanlike.’ Evan Cohen expressed his views when talking about what it would mean if the Tar Heels managed to pry Donovan away from the NBA.

“If they are able to pull off, getting a guy that is employed as an NBA coach right now, but is arguably one of the greatest coaches in college that we have ever seen, kudos to North Carolina, and that guy is Billy Donovan,” Cohen said.

“Billy Donovan is not a good college coach. Billy Donovan is an all-time great college coach, from X’s and O’s to recruiting to the way he carries himself to his family around him, to his interactions with people…. If North Carolina is able to pull off Billy Donovan, that is one of the great hires of the last 10 years in college basketball.”

Cohen framed it as one of the most impactful coaching moves college basketball could see in years. That said, Donovan’s future with the Bulls has become a topic of increasing speculation.

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan

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Recent reports suggest he may step away once the season ends, though nothing official has been confirmed. Chicago sits in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings and has not shown signs of being a serious playoff threat.

That scenario could open the door for a return to college basketball. He won two NCAA championships during his time at Florida and built a reputation as one of the elite coaches in the sport. If UNC can present the right opportunity, landing someone with that kind of pedigree would be a major statement.