UNC coach rumors tracker: Latest news on Tommy Lloyd, Dusty May, Billy Donovan, more tied to Tar Heels originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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When the North Carolina Tar Heels decided to part ways with Hubert Davis, they opened one of the most high-profile jobs in college basketball.
Coaching UNC, a program with deeply storied history and seemingly endless resources, is viewed as a dream job for most coaches. The Tar Heels are more than just annual NCAA Tournament contenders — they expect Final Fours and championship contention. So, it should come to no surprise if UNC is swinging big in its coaching search.
Early in the coaching search, names like Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, the Chicago Bulls’ Billy Donovan and Iowa’s Ben McCollum have been floated around. Who will the Tar Heels hire to replace Davis?
The Sporting News is tracking the latest rumors surrounding UNC’s coaching search. Follow along below for the freshest rumblings about who the Tar Heels may hire.
MORE: Seven names to watch in North Carolina’s search
Date: Apr. 2Source: Pete Thamel
With his Wildcats team approaching a Final Four matchup vs. Michigan, but his name coming up often in connection to UNC’s job, Tommy Lloyd told reporters Thursday that his “full focus” is on coaching Arizona.
“Nothing is distracting me. That’s how I’ve decided to approach it,” Lloyd said, per Thamel. “I’m 100-percent locked in or Arizona basketball right now. I’m excited to see what this team can do. I have a real strong belief in this team, and this team deserves my full attention. So that’s what I’m giving them.”
Date: Mar. 31Source: USA Today
Amid the speculation of his connection to UNC’s vacancy, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd mentioned in an answer that “Arizona is going to have another good coach after me,” which led to further questions over if he’d leave Tucson.
Lloyd then reportedly addressed that comment later on, explaining he didn’t say “when” that next coach would come.
“It’s absolutely true, there is going to be another coach. This is a great program. I didn’t say when. And people are going to speculate all they want,” Lloyd said. “Guys, this team has my full focus. Nothing. Nothing. I promise you nothing is knocking me off that path.”
“And you guys might call them distractions because you’re distracted. That doesn’t mean I’m distracted or we’re distracted. You know what’s pretty cool? Once you get some experience in this deal, and you’re a player or you’re a coach who has been at it a while, you get pretty good at eliminating the distractions. So, I think I’m pretty good at that and I just can’t wait to get to practice today.”
Date: Mar. 31Source: Brendan Marks
The Athletic’s Brendan Marks reports that Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd and Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who won two national titles at Florida, are considered “top candidates” for the Tar Heels.
Marks also reported how UNC will continue prioritizing winning over all else, including keeping the coaching tree within the “family.”
Date: Mar. 30Source: Carlos Monarrez
While there hasn’t been many direct reports linking Michigan head coach Dusty May to UNC’s vacancy yet, the Detroit Free Press’ Carlos Monarrez reported that by his understanding, May and UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham “know each other,” but UNC had yet to reach out.
Date: Mar. 25Source: Matt Norlander
Very quickly after the news of Davis’ firing, Celtics president of basketball operations, and former head coach, Brad Stevens reportedly removed his name from consideration for UNC’s job.
Stevens was always considered a longer shot, but he did not take long to shut down the possibility that he’d be leaving Boston.
Date: Mar. 25Source: USA Today
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has been speculated as an early candidate for the UNC job, but he said before Chicago’s Mar. 25 game against the 76ers that he’s focused on his NBA franchise.
“My main focus is on these guys and this new team,” Donovan said. “I understand that there’s stuff out there, and I understand that there is going to be certain speculation. But, I have to concentrate on this group, and really, my focus is on what we’re doing here in Chicago, having a game tonight, and traveling to go and play in a back-to-back.”
Date: Mar. 25Source: Pete Thamel
The Tar Heels have long kept their coaching lineage “in the family,” per se, as a coaching tree full of either former UNC players, or longtime assistants. But with the program’s lack of elite success lately, the team is prepared to find a coach from “outside” that lineage for the first time in decades.
Thamel said it will be “something new” to look outside the “family,” and UNC is expected to pursue “the biggest names in basketball.” The ESPN analyst named Brad Stevens, Billy Donovan, Dusty May, Ben McCollum and Tommy Lloyd among options they could pursue as “proven winners.”
DECOURCY: Why North Carolina going outside family to replace Hubert Davis is a good thin
