03/24/26 08:34:00
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03/24 20:33 CDT North Carolina parts ways with men's basketball coach Hubert
Davis after 5 seasons
North Carolina parts ways with men's basketball coach Hubert Davis after 5
seasons
By AARON BEARD
AP Basketball Writer
North Carolina and men's basketball coach Hubert Davis have parted ways after
five seasons leading the tradition-rich program.
The school announced the decision Tuesday night, saying it had made "a
leadership change" to end Davis' tenure as successor to retired Hall of Fame
coach Roy Williams. That run featured multiple high points, but also wild
swings of results, an inconsistency that runs contrary to the Tar Heels' status
as a tradition-rich blueblood with a hallmark of sustained top-tier success.
In its announcement, the school said athletic director Bubba Cunningham and
executive associate AD Steve Newmark --- who will take over as Cunningham's
successor in July --- made the recommendation ultimately accepted by chancellor
Lee Roberts.
"We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant
coach, head coach and community leader --- he has helped make special memories
we will never forget," Cunningham said in a statement. "This was not an easy
decision because of Hubert's tremendous character and all he has given to the
program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more
consistently at an elite level."
The program with six NCAA titles and a national-record 21 Final Fours now has
just three March Madness wins in the four seasons since an unexpected run to
the 2022 national title game in Davis' debut season. The Tar Heels reached the
Sweet 16 as a No. 1 seed in 2024 before being upset by Alabama, but otherwise
haven't reached the round of 32 in that span, and even missed the NCAAs
entirely in 2023.
The final blow was Thursday's overtime loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament in
which the Rams rallied from 19 down for the biggest comeback in first-round
history, changing the tenor of conversations about Davis' future. And by
Saturday, Cunningham said the school was evaluating "all facets" of the program.
Ultimately, that led to moving forward without the 55-year-old Davis, a popular
former UNC player under late Hall of Famer Dean Smith who went on to play 12
years in the NBA, work in broadcasting at ESPN, then join Williams' staff as an
assistant in 2012.
Now, one of the most coveted jobs in college basketball is open for only the
fourth time since Smith's retirement after 36 seasons in October 1997.
The school said it will honor terms of Davis' contract. He signed a two-year
extension last season running through 2029-30. The school would owe Davis
roughly $5.3 million for the remaining future years of his deal, plus remaining
payments for the 2025-26 fiscal year that ends June 30.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and
coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
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