BREAKING: North Carolina Plans on Hiring Coach as an Acting Coach
Tar Heels to break 65-year tradition by bringing in outside leader on interim basis following Hubert Davis’ dismissal
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through college basketball, the University of North Carolina is planning to hire a prominent head coach as an “acting coach” for the 2026-27 season, multiple sources confirmed Wednesday. The unprecedented arrangement would mark the first time in 74 years that the Tar Heels have brought in a leader from outside the “Carolina Family,” signaling a radical shift in how one of college basketball’s most tradition-bound programs operates.
The decision comes just one week after UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham and his successor, Steve Newmark, made the difficult call to fire head coach Hubert Davis following the Tar Heels’ stunning first-round NCAA Tournament loss to VCU . While the university has not officially confirmed the acting coach arrangement, sources indicate the move is designed to provide stability while allowing the program to evaluate long-term candidates without rushing into a permanent hire.
“This is completely unprecedented for a program of North Carolina’s stature,” said a college basketball insider familiar with the search. “You don’t see blue bloods using ‘acting’ titles. But given where the program is right now, it actually makes a strange kind of sense.”
The Tar Heels find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Davis’ firing ended a 65-year streak in which the head coaching position was held exclusively by former UNC players or assistants, a lineage that began when Dean Smith took over in 1961 . The last outsider to lead the program was Frank McGuire in 1952, and he delivered UNC its first national championship in 1957.
Now, Cunningham and Newmark are preparing to break that tradition entirely.
Why an Acting Coach?
The decision to pursue an interim arrangement rather than a permanent hire stems from several factors, sources say. First and foremost is timing. Two of UNC’s top candidates—Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd and Michigan’s Dusty May—are preparing their teams for the Final Four this weekend in Indianapolis . Both are considered unlikely to engage in serious negotiations until after the national championship game on April 6.
“We’ve got the most highly sought-after job in the country,” Cunningham said on the Carolina Insider podcast following Davis’ dismissal. “The history, tradition, and success of this program are second to none” .
But Cunningham also acknowledged there is no firm timeline for a hire. “No, there’s not. We want to get the right person. If it takes a couple of days, great. If it takes a little bit longer than that, then that’s what’s going to have to take” .
That open-ended timeline, however, presents a significant problem: the transfer portal opens on Tuesday, April 7—just one day after the national championship game . Without a head coach in place, UNC risks losing its current roster to the portal while missing opportunities to add transfer talent.
An acting coach could bridge that gap, providing immediate leadership for roster management while the university continues its search for a permanent solution. The arrangement would allow UNC to make a splashy hire—the acting coach is believed to be a high-profile name with significant experience—without committing to a long-term contract that might conflict with their ultimate target.
The Candidates: Lloyd and May at the Top
If and when UNC decides to pursue a permanent replacement, the focus has narrowed to two standout coaches currently leading their programs to historic heights.
Tommy Lloyd of Arizona has emerged as the prohibitive favorite among many within the program’s orbit . In four seasons with the Wildcats, Lloyd has built one of the nation’s most consistent programs, earning back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament before finally breaking through to the Final Four this year—Arizona’s first appearance since 2001.
Lloyd’s connection to the Carolina family runs through his 20-year apprenticeship under Mark Few at Gonzaga, where he worked alongside Roy Williams’ close friend. That relationship could ease any reluctance from traditionalists wary of an outsider taking over.
“He’s the total package,” the insider said. “Recruiting, player development, X’s and O’s—he checks every box. And he’s young enough to build something sustained.”
The price tag, however, is substantial. Lloyd’s buyout drops from $11 million to $9 million on April 1, but Arizona athletic director Desireé Reed-Francois has stated she will do “everything possible” to keep him in Tucson . Lloyd himself sounded like a man committed to staying when he spoke before the Final Four.
“The sun may be shining on this team and on me coaching it right now, but when it’s shining on you, you got to fight like hell to protect it and build it,” Lloyd said in San Jose. “So that’s what I feel like my number one responsibility is—to fight to protect the program and fight to build it” .
Dusty May of Michigan presents an equally compelling—if potentially more expensive—option. In just his second season in Ann Arbor, May has guided the Wolverines to a 35-3 record and a Final Four berth, their first since 2018. It is the second program May has led to the Final Four, having taken Florida Atlantic on a Cinderella run in 2023 .
May’s buyout sits at $7 million until April 30, but Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has made retaining May a top priority .
“My hope is that Dusty is our coach for a long time and continues to do the great work he’s doing, and I will do everything in my power to support him being in that position,” Manuel told The Detroit News .
The Dark Horse: Billy Donovan
While Lloyd and May command the spotlight, a third candidate looms in the background: Billy Donovan, currently coaching the Chicago Bulls. Donovan won back-to-back national championships at Florida in 2006 and 2007 and led the Gators to four Final Fours overall .
The Bulls’ season ends April 12, which aligns reasonably well with UNC’s timeline. Donovan has been mentioned as a top candidate by sources, and his NBA experience could appeal to a program looking to modernize its approach to player development and professional preparation .
Unlike Lloyd and May, Donovan would not require a buyout negotiation with another college program. However, he would need to be pried from the NBA—no small feat given the Bulls’ investment in him.
The Search Process
Cunningham and Newmark are leading the search with assistance from TurnkeyZRG, an executive consulting firm that specializes in sports hiring . The firm, led by Chad Chatlos, has completed Power Five football coaching searches for the University of Texas, South Carolina, and Arizona, and played a key role in securing ACC commissioner Jim Phillips.
“When a job like this comes open, there are so many requests and you really want to get back to people and have respect for what they’re trying to bring to you,” Cunningham said. “It does help us filter that” .
The Tar Heels are also consulting an advisory group of key stakeholders, including supporters of UNC athletics, along with former players and coaches . The final decision, however, rests with Cunningham and Newmark, who will then present their recommendation to Chancellor Lee Roberts.
The Financial Picture
Money will not be an obstacle—within reason. UNC is already paying Davis approximately $5.3 million in buyout compensation following his firing . The university’s willingness to invest in football with Bill Belichick—whose salary is reportedly in the range of $10 million annually—suggests the basketball program will receive similar financial backing.
“We’d be blind if we denied that finances are something that contributes to the success or failure of any collegiate athletic program,” Newmark acknowledged on the Carolina Insider podcast. “We want to make sure that we have a leader who understands that part of the job is trying to manage the financial component of running a basketball program” .
The cost of acquiring a top candidate could be significant. Beyond the buyouts for Lloyd ($9-11 million) or May ($7 million), UNC would need to offer a contract that places its new coach among the highest-paid in the sport. Davis’ $3.85 million annual compensation did not crack the top 25 nationally . That figure will almost certainly rise—and rise substantially.
What This Means for the Program
The decision to hire an acting coach—even temporarily—represents a fundamental shift in how North Carolina views itself. For 65 years, the program has prioritized continuity and family over outside star power. That era is ending.
“It’s fit. It sounds cliché and trite,” Cunningham said of what the program needs. “But this is a highly successful program. It’s nationally and internationally renowned, with an incredible legacy. It’s going to have to be somebody who’s very comfortable getting into that environment. There’s a very bright light on Carolina basketball” .
That light is about to get even brighter. With the transfer portal opening in days and the Final Four showcasing UNC’s top two targets, the next two weeks will determine the trajectory of one of college basketball’s most storied programs for years to come.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
