Michael Malone Signs Six-Year, $50M Deal With North Carolina

Carolina is one of the most historic programs in college basketball, and I am honored to be the head coach of the Tar Heels, Malone said in a statement. I will do everything I can to continue UNC's championship legacy while preparing our players for professional careers and life after basketball. Malone, 52, compiled a 471-327 record across 10 seasons in Denver and led the Nuggets to the franchise's only NBA title in 2023. He was dismissed last April and joined ESPN as an analyst the following month. He has not coached at the college level since serving as a Manhattan assistant in 2001. Malone was recommended by a search committee led by executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark and director of athletics Bubba Cunningham. Malone had new ties to the Tar Heels as his daughter is on the volleyball team. UNC had pursued several prominent college coaches, including Michigan's Dusty May, Arizona's Tommy Lloyd and Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger, before all three publicly committed to remaining at their current programs. [Malone] is a brilliant coach who will deliver a modern and disciplined approach to leading our men's basketball program, executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark said. Malone inherits a program in transition. Former coach Hubert Davis was dismissed March 24, five days after the Tar Heels surrendered a 19-point lead in a first-round NCAA tournament loss to 11th-seeded VCU.