After winning an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets, Michael Malone is back coaching college, now taking over North Carolina after the school let Hubert Davis go. Malone had been busy as soon as he arrived at Chapel Hill, retaining two transfer portal players, signing incoming freshmen and signing new players via the transfer portal. He had also been slowly building his staff.
Now, Michael Malone has finally hired the people he needs to run UNC and bounce back after years of disappointing seasons. His staff will be led by assistant head coach Chuck Martin, who was previously the head coach of Marist College from 2008 to 2013. He will be joined by Sean May, Bryan Tibaldi, Pat Sullivan, Brandon Robinson and Deion Thompson.
Bryan Tibaldi previously served as an assistant under Kim English at Providence, and like Malone, he also has some NBA experience. Tar Heels legend Pat Sullivan, who previously served under Hubert Davis, will be retained under Malone. He has so far served as a Tar Heels assistant coach for 13 seasons now.
Sean May, another Tar Heels legend, is also returning for his fifth season as an assistant coach at Chapel Hill. Another former North Carolina player, Deon Thompson, will also be joining Malone’s staff, along with Brandon Robinson, another North Carolina alum who previously played in the G-League.
Tibaldi and Martin are two assistants with extensive experience in coaching, while the others were former North Carolina players who have since transitioned as assistant coaches, with Sullivan being the longest-tenured of them all.
As for assistant head coach Chuck Martin, he will also serve as the new recruiting coordinator under Michael Malone.
Mike Malone Taking Massive Pay Cut To Coach North Carolina Tar Heels
While coaching college basketball may seem like a downgrade after the NBA, especially after leading the Denver Nuggets to the title, Michael Malone still chose to go to Chapel Hill and coach the Tar Heels. To add to that, he is also reportedly getting a pay cut as compared to what he was earning in the NBA.
Malone reportedly earned an annual salary of ~$12 million per year with the Denver Nuggets. With UNC, he has a six-year deal worth $50 million, which means he will only be earning a little over $8.3 million per year. if adjusted to inflation, that would be a massive pay cut indeed.
Read More:
Andrej Stojakovic NBA Draft: Can Illinois Star Still Return To College Basketball?
Dusty May’s 2025 Contract Extension: How Much Does Michigan’s HC Earn?
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
