According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, UNC intends to hire former NBA head coach Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship, to the same position in Chapel Hill. He replaces Hubert Davis, who was dismissed after five seasons on March 24. Malone, 54, last coached in 2025 with the Denver Nuggets.
Tar Heel fans and the sports world at-large took to social media to share their reactions to the new hire. Sports commentators were quick to share their analysis of the hire.
Michael Malone is one of the best pure basketball coaches on planet earth and his grating personality will matter less in college than it did in the NBA. That’s an outstanding hire by UNC. Only question is whether he can get players.
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) April 6, 2026
North Carolina really just made a power play of epic proportions. NBA champion Michael Malone?!
UNC not playing around. Should be fun to see how Malone’s coaching style can translate to the college level. t.co/GlZ328hyFN
— Eddie Resurreccion (@EdmarResurrecc1) April 6, 2026
Michael Malone is either going to go really great at UNC or it's going to go exceptionally poorly. There will be no in-between, IMO, and he's going to have to hire an awesome staff.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 6, 2026
A few thoughts on UNC hiring Mike Malone…1. UNC can reasonably feel like they have a coaching advantage every time they play Duke now.2. Perhaps UNC can make a great pitch to superstar big men given Malone’s history with Jokic.3. UNC doesn’t have to pay a multimillion dollar buyout for Malone.
— NBABeau (@nbabeau.bsky.social) 2026-04-06T18:47:21.051Z
Great haircut, sharp suit, intimidating stare. pic.twitter.com/JUfV4cOH1o
— Ross Martin (@RossMartinNC) April 6, 2026
After all this it's… Mike Malone?!
Don't hate the hire but, man, that's out of left field a little bit. Been some links, but few and far between really.
Underwhelming? A good hire? Honestly not sure what to think yet.
— Jacob Turner (@JacobTurnerNC) April 6, 2026
Most schools want the young, hungry, and aggressive head coaches for this new era of college athletics with NIL
Meanwhile at UNC? It's Bill Belichick and Michael Malone t.co/0E96JZtA0n
— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) April 6, 2026
Reactions from both Tar Heel fans and college basketball fans were mixed. While some shared their excitement for a new era of Carolina hoops, others were certainly more trepidatious about Malone, who has not coached the college level since 2001 and had not held a college head coaching job before. Former players Tyler Hansborough and Seth Trimble, quickly chimed in with their support alongside other fans — while others drew a comparison between the hire to UNC’s choice of Bill Belichick to lead its football program in 2024.
A photo from Seth Trimble’s Instagram story sharing the Michael Malone hiring news with the applause emoji. (Photo via Instagram.)
"This is a great hire. North Carolina is going to be right back on the map, immediately. This is, in my opinion, an absolutely amazing hire" – @THANS50
INSTANT REACTION ⬇️ t.co/aP8snnTwub t.co/5evVYyKie7
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) April 6, 2026
Michael Malone ?
— Justin Jackson (@JJacks_44) April 6, 2026
Tyler Hansborough approves of the hire, so I approve of this hire. THE MIKE MALONE ERA IS HERE
— Caleb Wilson Enthusiast (@uncglazer) April 6, 2026
If the Mike Malone story is true, I don't actually know how to feel. I don't know if complaining about a 54-year-old former NBA champion is appropriate and I also don't know if that is based on the fact that I'm still disappointed about not getting Tommy Lloyd.
— ♛Young Simba♛ (A Leaky Black Stan Account) (@CrownedPrinceHC) April 6, 2026
We need to fire the Chancellor, the AD, and everyone else involved in this sabotage.
— Michael Crawford (@michaelcrawford.com) 2026-04-06T18:24:57.897Z
Welcome to the family, Coach Malone. t.co/pnKfZ0NWyg
— Countesses of UNC (@CountessesofUNC) April 6, 2026
twitter.com/CountessesofUNC/status/2041216884750647388 twitter.com/i/status/2041225622538568187
and now we enter the "UNC can't fire Mike Malone because they need the money to fire Belichick/UNC can't fire Belichick because they need the money to fire Mike Malone" loop
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub.bsky.social) 2026-04-06T18:28:39.690Z
MALONE???#GoHeels
— Mikey in DFW (@mdwdfw.bsky.social) 2026-04-06T18:03:12.160Z
As of Monday at 4 p.m., UNC and its athletic department have not officially announced Malone’s hiring or introductory press conference.
Featured photo via AP Photo/David Zalubowski.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Social Media Reactions Split to UNC Hiring Michael Malone as New Men’s Basketball Coach Chapelboro.com.
Hence then, the article about social media reactions split to unc hiring michael malone as new men s basketball coach was published today ( ) and is available on chapelboro ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Social Media Reactions Split to UNC Hiring Michael Malone as New Men’s Basketball Coach )
Also on site :