Where should UNC look for its next basketball coach? Possible candidates

Hubert Davis is out at North Carolina after a second straight first-round NCAA Tournament exit, the school announced Tuesday night.

With a coaching search now underway in Chapel Hill, the UNC head coaching position could — for the first time since the 1950s — open to a candidate outside the “Carolina Family.”

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham and incoming AD Steve Newmark are leading the search, and UNC has hired executive search firm Turnkey ZRG to assist. Cunningham and Newmark also will consult with an advisory group comprised of key stakeholders (former players, former coaches and supporters of UNC Athletics), the school announced in a statement.

Davis was under contract through the 2029-30 season after signing an extension in December 2024, with roughly $5.3 million in remaining base salary obligations if UNC chose to move on. His total compensation sat at about $3.85 million this past season and was set to increase annually.

The cost of Davis’ buyout — as well as the potential buyout and salary of his replacement — exists within a broader financial shift for the athletic department. The big picture includes significant investment in football under Bill Belichick, the added pressures of college athletics’ new revenue-sharing model and the future of the Dean E. Smith Center — making the calculus as much about long-term direction as short-term dollars.

Now, as North Carolina moves forward, it faces a defining question: not just who to hire, but how wide to cast the net for one of college basketball’s most coveted jobs.

Here are some of the biggest names, per prediction markets, as well as an analysis of their viability (in alphabetical order):

Billy Donovan

Donovan, 60, won back-to-back national titles with the University of Florida and is the head coach of the Chicago Bulls — although his future there may be in question.

There’s been growing momentum in the organization, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, that Donovan could step away from his role and “take a season to re-evaluate what he wants from the profession.”

Would he consider re-entering the college ranks? That much is unclear. Donovan’s been dealing with a gutted Bulls roster and, more importantly, the unexpected death of his father, Bill, last month.

There’s also the issue of the timeline. The NBA regular season ends April 15, roughly a week into the critical portal window, which opens April 7.

For those reasons, as well as Donovan’s age (he turns 61 on May 30), this option feels unlikely.

Todd Golden

Another former Florida coach, another predictions market favorite for the UNC opening.

Golden, 40, has found success with the Gators through the transfer portal, with a particular knack for spotting undervalued talent at the mid-major level. Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin were hooping at Iona and Florida Atlantic, respectively, before they became key players for Golden’s 2025 national championship squad. They have now found NBA roles in Memphis (Clayton) and in Toronto (Martin).

But UNC must weight Golden’s pedigree and proven success in the SEC with some of the controversy that’s swirled around him at Florida.

Golden was accused in a Title IX complaint of sexual harrasment, sexual exploitation and stalking, first reported by the school’s student newspaper, The Alligator. The university’s investigation later cleared him, but the allegations remain part of Golden’s reputation.

There’s also the matter of Golden’s buyout. That price tag, before April 16, sits at $16 million were he to leave for another college. And, as of Tuesday afternoon, it appears Florida is looking to sign Golden to a third contract extension in as many years, per reporting from the Associated Press.

Tommy Lloyd

Lloyd is in his fifth season as Arizona’s head coach, where he has quickly established one of college basketball’s most successful starts — setting the NCAA record for most wins by a head coach in his first two seasons with 61.

He’s led Wildcats to multiple conference titles and four Sweet 16 appearances in five years.

The 2022 national coach of the year, Lloyd previously spent more than two decades at Gonzaga under Mark Few.

Known for his fast-paced style — something UNC basketball fans can identify with — he has guided Arizona to consistent national relevance and sustained postseason success.

Last April, Lloyd and Arizona agreed to a one-year contract extension that will keep Lloyd under contract through 2030.

With a proven pedigree, a clear future at Arizona and strong ties to the West Coast, would an opening at UNC be enough to sway Lloyd to come East?

TJ Otzelberger

Otzelberger, 48, has built Iowa State into a consistent winner, leading the Cyclones to three Sweet 16 in five years as head coach.

Otzelberger is known for his defensive intensity and disciplined, blue collared approach. Kentucky coach Mark Pope joked over the weekend Otzelberger “could go grab five guys from the rec center, give them a week,” and they’d be a “defensive juggernaut.”

The Iowa State head coach has also engineered one of college basketball’s quickest turnarounds in recent years. The Cyclones became the first team to go from two wins in one season (2020-21) to the Sweet 16 the next season (2021-22) when Otzelberger took over.

Otzelberger is a Midwest native with a reputation for maximizing talent and developing cohesive teams, though questions remain about translating that success to a blueblood program with higher expectations.

Per The Des Moines Register, Otzelberger’s contract extension from December 2024 lowered his buyout to $4 million.

Jay Wright

Wright, 64, is a Hall of Fame coach who retired in 2022 after leading Villanova to two national championships — in 2016 with a buzzer-beater against UNC and in 2018 over Michigan — and four Final Four appearances over 21 seasons.

Known for his culture-building and postseason success, Wright stepped away at the top of his career, citing a loss of competitive edge.

He now serves as a special assistant at Villanova, and has shown little public interest in returning to coaching.

Still, his elite résumé and proven ability to win at the highest level make him a compelling, if unlikely, candidate for any top-tier opening.

Brad Stevens

Stevens, 49, is the president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics and a former NBA head coach with a reputation for analytical, detail-oriented leadership.

He went 354-282 in eight seasons as the Celtics coach, making three Eastern Conference Finals appearances, before transitioning to the front office in 2021.

Prior to the NBA, Stevens rose to prominence at Butler, leading the program to back-to-back NCAA title game appearances.

Known for maximizing talent and building disciplined systems, Stevens has remained out of coaching, but his track record makes him a perennial name in high-profile searches like this one.

This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 9:19 PM with the headline "Where should UNC look for its next basketball coach? Possible candidates."