North Carolina recently parted ways with Hubert Davis. The Tar Heels appointed Davis as their head coach in 2021. However, there hasn’t been enough success in the last five years for Davis to continue with his alma mater. Though heartbreaking, many believe it was a decision that was needed for the program.
There has been an active search going on for Hubert Davis’ successor at UNC. Billy Donovan, Dusty May, Tommy Lloyd, Todd Golden, Nate Oats, and T.J. Otzelberger were just some of the names thrown in the mix for the job opportunity. So far, none of the names has amounted to any real possibility.
However, there was a buzz around Tommy Lloyd more than others when he talked about Arizona hiring a great coach after him. There were even rumors that UNC and NBA legend Michael Jordan himself had approached him to help the Tar Heels find a new coach. Arizona HC Lloyd put an end to all such rumors.
Lloyd cleared the air about North Carolina, saying, “I’d also like to let you know Carolina’s an amazing place. It’s one of one. And you know, it’s an honor to be even considered for that job. The young kid in me, the college basketball junkie watching all those games at home, never would’ve thought something like that could happen to somebody like me. So, North Carolina is a first class organization. And I appreciate them for the way they have handled this.”
“Michael Jordan, the phone call never did happen. So, I’ll put that to rest. I mean, come on, we all idolized MJ. And I don’t know [how many times] I have watched that “come fly with me” video. My kid grew up watching the movie he made. With that being said though, I made a decision that my Michael Jordan is Steve Kerr. And I’m proud to be an Arizona Wildcat,” Tommy Lloyd said.
Tommy Lloyd Signs New Contract With Arizona Wildcats
Lloyd, probably unknowingly but surely, sparked rumors of his exit and appointment as UNC HC with his comments about Arizona’s next boss. He later clarified that he only meant to say how good the Wildcats program is, and they will naturally appoint someone great. He also said that he never mentioned when that change is going to happen. And now he has made it official that he has no intention of leaving.
Tommy Lloyd has signed a new 5-year contract. As per the new contract, he will become one of the five highest-paid coaches in men’s college basketball. With nearly $7.2 million starting the 2026-27 season, the salary would average $7.5 milling over the duration of the contract. Significant bonuses and additional support for staff salaries are also included in the new deal. The earlier buyout was set at $9 million. The new amount for a possible buyout is undisclosed but confirmed to be higher than $9 million.
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Tommy Lloyd Coaching History: Career Timeline, Teams, and Achievements
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