One of college basketball’s most prestigious jobs is open — and the next hire at North Carolina could define the program’s direction for the next decade.
Hubert Davis was fired five days after UNC’s collapse against VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a loss that saw the Tar Heels blow a 19-point second-half lead in overtime. Players were informed during a 9 p.m. ET meeting at Davis’ home.
“This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program,” athletic director Bubba Cunningham said, “but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”
For the first time in decades, UNC is expected to look outside its coaching lineage. Here are the candidates most firmly in the mix, according to college basketball insider Rob Reinhart.
NEWS: North Carolina has already begun their search for a head coach, and I’m told the following are in the mix:
– Tommy Lloyd
– Earl Grant
– Ed Cooley
– Kim English
– Tommy Lloyd
– Dan Hurley
– Jake Morton— Rob Reinhart (@RealRobReinhart) March 25, 2026
Tommy Lloyd — Arizona Head Coach
Tommy Lloyd is the complete package. He is a proven winner, an elite recruiter, and program builder, but getting him from Tucson won’t be easy.
Since taking over Arizona in 2021, he has gone 146–35, the most wins ever by a head coach in his first five seasons. This season, Arizona opened 23–0, won both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, and Lloyd was named Sporting News Coach of the Year.
Before Arizona, he spent 20 years at Gonzaga under Mark Few, helping build one of the sport’s most consistent programs. He also has international experience, leading USA Basketball U18 and U19 teams to gold medals.
The primary question is his postseason ceiling. Arizona has not advanced past the Sweet 16 under Lloyd. There is also a financial hurdle, with a buyout that sits at $11 million before mid-April.
Still, he represents the most complete blend of program builder, recruiter, and modern coach on the market.
Dan Hurley — UConn Head Coach
Hurley is undoubtedly the best option but he’s also the least likely candidate.
He has won back-to-back national championships and is widely considered the top active coach in college basketball. At UConn, he has compiled a 165–69 record and led the program to 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament wins from 2023 through 2025.
He also declined a head coaching offer from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024, reinforcing his long-term commitment to UConn.
UNC can explore the possibility, but there is little indication he is looking to leave. Any pursuit would be about testing the waters rather than expecting a realistic outcome.
Jai Lucas — Miami Head Coach
A first-year head coach at Miami, Jai Lucas already made one of the loudest statements in college basketball.
He engineered what may be the most dramatic turnaround in the sport this season, flipping a 7–24 Miami program into a 26–8 NCAA Tournament team that reached the Round of 32. The turnaround drew immediate national attention and elevated his profile overnight.
His pedigree runs deep. Before taking the Miami job, Lucas spent 12 seasons on staffs at Duke, Kentucky, and Texas. At Duke, he served as associate head coach and was credited with helping secure the nation’s top recruiting class in both 2024 and 2025. He comes from a basketball family as well — his father is former NBA player and coach John Lucas II.
The obvious concern is experience. At 37, he is among the youngest head coaches in Division I, and UNC would be making a significant leap of faith on someone with just one season at the helm.
Ed Cooley — Georgetown Head Coach
Ed Cooley may not be the flashiest name on the list, but the current Georgetown head coach is a proven commodity. He offers a strong track record of building programs and sustaining success.
At Providence, he won 242 games, reached seven NCAA Tournaments, and captured a Big East regular-season title. He established the Friars as a consistent postseason program, which aligns with UNC’s expectations.
His tenure at Georgetown has been uneven, though there have been signs of progress. The Hoyas improved their win total, returned to postseason play, and produced two NBA Draft picks in 2025.
Cooley brings experience, stability, and a clear identity. He may not be the splash hire, but he is one of the safest options available.
Earl Grant — Former Boston College Head Coach
Earl Grant’s candidacy depends on how UNC evaluates the coaching job that he did at Boston College, which certainly deserves some context.
At Charleston, he built a winning program, going 127–89 and leading the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly two decades. That success earned him the Boston College job, where results were limited.
He went 72–92 overall and 31–67 in ACC play, with only one winning season. Boston College’s structural disadvantages, including limited NIL resources and lower institutional emphasis on basketball complicate that evaluation.
UNC would need to determine whether his Charleston success is more indicative of his ability to build a program.
Kim English — Former Providence Head Coach
Kim English represents a different kind of hire than the other candidates on this list. He’s young, unproven, and more of a developmental bet.
He is widely regarded as a strong communicator and talent developer. In his first season at Providence, he led the program to a 21–14 record and helped develop Devin Carter into a first-round NBA Draft pick.
The next two seasons were less successful. Providence went 12–20 last year and struggled early in Big East play this season, leading to his dismissal. He finished 48–52 overall.
At 37, English still has a lot of room to grow as a head coach. The question is whether UNC is willing to prioritize long-term growth over immediate certainty.
Who Will Be The Next UNC Basketball Coach?
North Carolina rarely faces decisions of this magnitude. The hire will not be about short-term recovery, but long-term direction.
Cunningham made that clear in his statement. While UNC legend Kenny Smith has also been linked to the head coaching job, the university is reportedly looking for someone outside of the program to right the ship.
The next coach will not only be expected to consistently deliver high-profile recruits and win at the highest level — they will be challenged with restoring UNC to its rightful place at the top of college basketball.
