Hubert Davis Fired: UNC Basketball Coaching Search Begins

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis was fired Tuesday, ending a five-year tenure marked by initial success followed by recent struggles and culminating in a first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament, the university confirmed.

The decision, made by Athletics Director Bubba Cunningham and incoming AD Steve Newmark and approved by UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts, comes days after the Tar Heels lost to VCU in the first round of the tournament, blowing a 19-point second-half lead. Davis, a former Tar Heel player and assistant coach, finished his time in Chapel Hill with a record of 125-54 and four years remaining on a contract that will result in a buyout exceeding $5 million, which the university said it would honor.

“My desire was to continue to coach here,” Davis said in a statement posted on social media Tuesday night. “This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together. My goal is to coach again in the near future.”

Cunningham acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, praising Davis’s character and contributions to the program. “This was not an uncomplicated 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,” he said in a statement. Newmark added that Davis “cares deeply for our University and it has been inspiring to watch him instill that love and Tar Heel tradition into the players he has coached.”

The firing marks a significant shift for a program steeped in tradition. Since 1952, UNC has only hired coaches with direct ties to the university, a lineage stretching back through Dean Smith and Roy Williams. Davis was handpicked by Williams as his successor in 2021. The university is now poised to potentially conduct a national search, a departure from its historical practice.

Weakening donor support for roster management, coupled with the increasing costs of maintaining a competitive team – now exceeding $12 million annually – played a role in the decision, according to the university. The Tar Heels’ inability to consistently compete for national titles and secure high seeds in the NCAA Tournament also contributed to the change.

Davis’s tenure began with a remarkable run to the national championship game in 2022, defeating Duke in the Final Four. Still, the team struggled to replicate that success. In 2023, UNC missed the NCAA Tournament entirely, becoming the first preseason No. 1 team to do so since the tournament expanded in 1985. While the team rebounded to win the ACC regular-season title and earn a No. 1 seed in 2024, they were eliminated in the Sweet 16. This season’s first-round loss to VCU proved to be the final setback.

The loss to VCU was particularly damaging, as the Tar Heels squandered a significant lead. Following the game, Davis offered a brief and somber response to questions about the team’s back-to-back early tournament exits, stating he was “just not there right now.”

Potential candidates to replace Davis include Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty May, and Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger, all of whom are currently leading their teams in the NCAA Tournament. Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, a two-time national champion with Florida, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

The decision to fire Davis comes as North Carolina is also navigating a significant debate regarding renovations or relocation of the Dean Smith Center and is in the midst of a contentious debate about revenue sharing in college sports. The university recently took a similar bold step in its football program, hiring NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick.