After weeks of indecision, the North Carolina Tar Heels fixed their coaching issue by hiring former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone as their new head coach. This comes weeks after the Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis after another disappointing NCAA Tournament performance for North Carolina.
It was this Tuesday that Malone was presented to the press at Chapel Hill. As expected, he was asked how he would handle the Tar Heels’ eternal rivalry with the neighboring Duke Blue Devils. Here’s what Malone had to say:
“I love rivalries… I’m excited to be a part of that rivalry… I know that Duke is a program down the road, and they’ve had success. But I didn’t come here to be second best, I didn’t come here to lose in the first round of the ACC Tournament. I came here to win and win at a big level.”
This seems like a direct jab at Malone’s predecessor, Hubert Davis, as the Tar Heels were surprisingly eliminated in their first game of the ACC Tournament this season, the quarterfinal against Clemson. The NCAA Tournament was not much kinder to North Carolina, as they fell in the first round against VCU.
Michael Malone was North Carolina’s top choice for the vacancy
During the press conference, Steve Newmark, North Carolina’s Executive Associate Athletic Director, said Michael Malone was the target the Tar Heels were after from the start of the process.
“Michael was the first coach we engaged with as part of the search process because of his reputation as a selfless teacher and innovator who brings an incredible ability to connect with players and get the absolute best out of those he mentors,” said Executive Associate Athletic Director Steve Newmark, who will become Carolina’s director of athletics on July 1.
“He is a brilliant coach who will deliver a modern and disciplined approach to leading our men’s basketball program, which is critical in the current landscape of college athletics. Carolina basketball is unique and special – and we have hired a leader well-suited to continuing our championship tradition,” he added.
Regardless of how high or low Malone was on North Carolina’s list, the truth is the Tar Heels are getting a highly experienced coach who happens to be an NBA champion.
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