Michael Malone might be America’s most intriguing college basketball coach, though not necessarily for the best reasons.
Leading the North Carolina program brings its own unique pressure under any circumstances. But because Malone was a surprising hire for the Tar Heels, scrutiny will only intensify. The track record of former NBA coaches without prior college head-coaching experience is poor. Mike Dunleavy Sr., Avery Johnson, and Isiah Thomas are just a few who failed.
To be fair, Malone is the most accomplished coach to attempt the move. He won the 2023 NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets and posted a .590 winning percentage over 10 seasons. He was fired in April despite a 47-32 record. Most thought Malone would be coaching again soon, but no one expected it to be in college, let alone in North Carolina.
Coach Michael Malone talks about the adjustment from the NBA to college basketball
@UNC_Basketball | @GoHeels | #GoHeels https://t.co/kw61tex9U7
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) October 7, 2026
Malone wasn’t even the first choice. If Billy Donovan had said yes, the perception and future of the North Carolina program would look very different today. Instead of a slam-dunk hire, Malone’s appointment raises questions. Primarily: Can a former NBA coach succeed in college? The game is different; the rules are changing rapidly in this hyper-litigious environment, and player acquisition and retention are considerably more complicated.
The NBA is pure basketball. There are only 30 teams. These coaches know their Xs and Os. Plus, rosters are considerably more stable year to year. In college, coaches must deal with so many factors unrelated to the game that can dramatically affect on-court results. The job has never been harder, even for those who have spent a lifetime in Division I.
Now, here comes Malone, who last worked on a campus as an assistant at Manhattan in 2001. That might as well be the Stone Age. So much has changed, and the landscape keeps evolving. However, the expectations to win at the highest level remain the same for bluebloods like North Carolina. Roy Williams’ handpicked successor, Hubert Davis, lasted five seasons. He reached the 2022 Final Four and beat Mike Krzyzewski in Coach K’s final game at Duke.
That wasn’t enough to overcome back-to-back seasons of failing to advance past the Round of 64.
In one preseason poll, North Carolina was picked to finish in the ACC, behind favored Duke, Miami, Louisville, and Virginia. The Tar Heels’ revamped roster includes transfers Matt Able (NC State), Neoklis Avdalas (Virginia Tech), and Terrence Brown (Utah). Able (8.8 ppg) withdrew from the NBA draft. Brown (19.9 ppg) finished third in the Big 12 in scoring. Avdalas (12.1 ppg) was also highly regarded in the portal.
Last week, North Carolina defeated USC 88-70 in an exhibition game in Greensboro, N.C. Senior center Jarin Stevenson led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Avdalas added 15 points.
In his first season, Malone will try to establish his culture and lay the groundwork for future success. He needs to prove to the fan base, and to future high schoolers and transfers, that the Tar Heels are trending in the right direction.
At North Carolina, he’ll have all the resources he needs. The program reportedly ranks 13th in the nation in NIL spending, at $10.6 million this season. Big money doesn’t always translate into victories right away, but it’s a good start.
Skepticism will surround Malone’s program because he wasn’t the first choice and because he’s a former NBA coach. His success or failure will be fascinating to watch this season and beyond.
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