Hubert Davis Fired: North Carolina Begins Coaching Search After NCAA Loss
Hubert Davis has been fired as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina, the school announced Tuesday night, concluding a tumultuous week following the Tar Heels’ stunning first-round loss to VCU in the NCAA tournament.
The decision to remove Davis was jointly recommended by outgoing athletic director Bubba Cunningham and incoming AD Steve Newmark, and subsequently approved by Chancellor Lee Roberts. Cunningham, who will transition to a senior advisor role this summer, and Newmark, who takes over as athletic director on July 1, met with Davis in recent days to discuss potential changes aimed at improving the program’s performance, but ultimately determined a change in leadership was necessary.
Davis informed the team of the decision Tuesday evening at his home, according to multiple reports. In a statement posted to Instagram, Davis expressed his disappointment, stating he was “let move” despite his desire to continue coaching at Chapel Hill. “This opportunity has truly been such a blessing,” he wrote. “I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish together. My goal is to coach again in the very near future.”
UNC will honor the terms of Davis’ contract, which includes a buyout of approximately $5.3 million. The move opens one of college basketball’s most prestigious coaching positions, and the university has retained executive search firm Turnkey ZRG to assist in a national search for his replacement. Carolina will also consult with an advisory group comprised of former players, coaches, and supporters of UNC Athletics, the school said.
The firing comes days after UNC’s shocking collapse against VCU, a 19-point lead evaporating in an 82-78 overtime defeat. The loss marked the largest blown lead in a first-round game in men’s tournament history and the second consecutive year the Tar Heels were eliminated in the first round. Davis’ postgame demeanor following the VCU loss, where he curtly dismissed a question about his in-game rotations, drew criticism.
Davis’ five-year tenure at UNC saw a mixed bag of results. He led the Tar Heels to the national championship game in 2022, upsetting Duke in the Final Four, but the team ultimately fell to Kansas. The following season, UNC became the first preseason No. 1 team to miss the NCAA tournament entirely. This past season, despite the absence of projected top-five NBA draft pick Caleb Wilson for the final nine games due to injury, UNC finished with a 24-9 record and won the ACC regular-season title.
Prior to becoming head coach in 2021, following the retirement of Roy Williams, Davis spent nine seasons as an assistant coach under Williams. A former UNC player himself, Davis played under Dean Smith from 1988 to 1992 and was a first-round pick in the NBA draft.
“We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”
The school has indicated it will pursue candidates outside of the traditional UNC network for the first time, signaling a potentially significant shift in the program’s direction.