When Hubert Davis took over the head coaching job with North Carolina in 2021-22 and led them to the NCAA Tournament final, it seemed like the school had found the man to oversee the program for the next decade. However, the Tar Heels failed to make the tournament the following season and were eliminated in the opening round the previous two years.
That’s why ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that the coach’s future is currently “in change.” The basketball insider claims no decision will be made until next week, but at least the entire staff under Davis will be out. If North Carolina were to make a complete turnaround and move on from Davis, let’s look at six replacement options for possibly the best job in college basketball.
Brad Underwood, Illinois
Although it took some time, Brad Underwood has turned Illinois into a legitimate force in the Big Ten. They have posted 20 or more wins in each of the last seven seasons, went 25-8 in 2025-26, and the coach has a pair of conference tournament championships on his resume. Underwood has done a lot with the second-tier school in the conference. With UNC’s resources and brand recognition, he can achieve the consistent results expected by the program.
Todd Golden, Florida
North Carolina’s dream target would be Florida head coach Todd Golden. After a remarkable performance that legitimized San Francisco, the coach has made an immediate impact on the Gators. In his third season, he led the program to a national title, and they are in position to repeat this month after a rocky start to the 2025-26 season.
What makes him extremely attractive is that he is only 40 years old. The big question is will he feel that UNC offers a better job than the one he currently has in Gainesville? Many people across the country think this will happen.
Michael Malone, former Nuggets head coach
A few years ago, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was viewed as one of the best in the NBA. He developed Denver into a consistent title contender, helped elevate Nikola Jokic to superstar status and led the Nuggets to their first championship in 2023. However, disagreements with the front office led to his surprise exit at the end of last season.
After the way he was fired in 2024, Malone could be angry at the NBA experience and big personalities involved on and off the court. Bringing in a coach who recently won an NBA title would be a coup for UNC. The only issue is, does his lack of college experience make the situation as messy as it was in football with Bill Belichick in school?
TJ Otzelbarger, Iowa State
Since arriving at Iowa State five years ago, TJ Otzelbarger has done nothing but win and bring the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament every year. Furthermore, his team is positioned as a hidden horse to reach the championship game this month.
Similar to Brad Underwood at Illinois, if given the resources North Carolina has, Otzelburger could get the program back to becoming a consistent contender to reach the Elite 8 every year.
Mark Few, Gonzaga
Mark Few is the greatest coach in Gonzaga history and transformed the program into a recognized name in college basketball during his 26-year tenure. He is the king of the mid-majors, and there has always been talk of a move to a top program. But he is good friends with the Bulldogs and has nothing to leave behind.
However, North Carolina is one of the few programs that would seriously consider him leaving Spokane. Furthermore, it would give him the best chance to achieve the one thing he has yet to achieve: winning a national championship.
Tom Thibodeau, former Knicks head coach
Although he has never won an NBA title or reached the Finals, Tom Thibodeau has consistently been one of the better coaches in the NBA for the past 15 years. He proved this by bringing the New York Knicks back to relevance during this decade and making it to the Conference Finals last season. Unfortunately, the high standards he set and the franchise’s decades-long title drought led to him being unfairly fired last spring.
Like Malone, he could be coached in the NBA and be ready to make the jump to the college ranks to take full control of a program. The 68-year-old is always busy working and diving head first into the roster-building process while building a serious culture for the program.
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