UNC basketball has finalized a decision regarding coach Hubert Davis’ future. On Tuesday, they decided to release him from his position after five seasons. This came following their disappointing 82-78 loss to the VCU Rams in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
With the Tar Heels’ head coaching position open, there have been a lot of questions as to who can replace Davis. On Tuesday’s episode of “The Field of 68,” basketball analyst Jeff Goodman threw in an NBA coach’s name as a potential candidate.
According to Goodman, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan could make the transition to the collegiate level. The analyst’s assessment comes amid the coach’s uncertain future with the franchise. He also revealed that he spoke with Donovan, but the coach decided to remain quiet about his future.
“The wildcard here is Billy Donovan,” Goodman said (14:43). “That’s the wildcard. I was texting with him earlier, he didn’t give me anything. I think, again, Billy’s a very loyal guy.”
“I’ve said this over and over, he’s the coach that I miss the most that has left college basketball. The (Chicago) Bulls stank, we know that. He’s got a lucrative contract with the Bulls right now. However, there are a ton of people in Billy Donovan’s circle right now that have told (him), get the hell out of there,” Goodman added.
The Bulls hired Donovan in 2020. In July 2025, he agreed to a multi-year extension with the franchise. However, several reports have surfaced that the team might part ways with him ahead of the next season. Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley cited several reasons while also highlighting the emotional toll on Donoval after he lost his dad and mother-in-law last month.
This season, the Bulls missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Before transitioning to the NBA, Billy Donovan served as the coach of the Florida Gators from 1996 to 2015. He won two national championships with them, while putting up a 467-186 overall record.
Hubert Davis Breaks His Silence After Being Fired by UNC
After UNC decided to part ways with Hubert Davis, he shared a post on Instagram, saying he wanted to continue coaching the Tar Heels.
However, Davis also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with the program.
“Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill,” Davis wrote. “My desire was to continue to coach here. 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 very near future.”
In five seasons with UNC, Davis put up a 125-54 overall record with three playoff appearances.
Also Read: What is Hubert Davis’ Buyout? Here’s How Much UNC Owe Him After Sacking
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