UNC fires Hubert Davis: Here are some coaching candidates for the Tar Heels in the 2026-27 season

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UNC fired  Hubert Davis on Tuesday as their head men's basketball coach after five seasons with the program.

Here is a look at some of the potential candidates to replace him.

Baylor head coach Scott Drew

Two years ago, Scott Drew turned down the Kentucky job. Mark Pope took the job instead.

Drew, 55, has been the Baylor coach since 2003.

Baylor’s 16-16 record this past season snapped five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, which includes the 2021 national championship.

Alabama head coach Nate Oats

Nate Oats, 51, has led Alabama to the Sweet 16 even though his star guard Aden Holloway hasn’t played in the NCAA Tournament. Holloway is facing felony drug charges.

Oats has led the Crimson Tide to a program-record four consecutive Sweet 16s. It included an upset of UNC en route to a Final Four appearance in 2024.

Whether Alabama can upset No. 1 seed Michigan on Friday night is significant because of the timing of the UNC opening.

Oats’ buyout is approximately $18 million. It drops to $10 million on April 1.

Remember, the Final Four is on April 4 and the national title game is April 6.

Former Villanova head coach Jay Wright

Jay Wright retired in April 2022 after 21 seasons as head coach at Villanova.

The 64-year-old won two NCAA championships in 2016 and 2018. He also made four Final Four appearances (2009, 2016, 2018 and 2022).

Wright currently works as a special assistant to Villanova’s president.

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan

Billy Donovan has a 233-247 record as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, a directionless franchise that hasn’t figured out how to properly tank and was last an Eastern Conference contender longer than a decade ago.

If the Bulls opted to move on from Donovan at the conclusion of the NBA season, he could resurface at the college level if he wants to continue coaching.

Donovan won back-to-back national championships as head coach of the Florida Gators in 2006 and 2007. He also coached the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020.

Florida coach Todd Golden

Fresh on everyone’s mind is the loss, a major upset, to Iowa in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

However, Todd Golden has led Florida to a major revamp, compiling a 103-41 record in four seasons.

Golden, 40, led the Gators to the 2025 national championship. He became the youngest coach to win a national title since Jim Valvano.

In November 2024, various news outlets reported that Golden faced accusations of sexual harassment and stalking by several women, including students. It became the subject of a Title IX investigation with the University of Florida. In January 2025, the University of Florida announced the conclusion of the investigation of Golden, finding no evidence of any Title IX violations after a “thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews."

Michigan coach Dusty May

Dusty May, 49, has been the head coach at Michigan for the past two seasons, leading the Wolverines to consecutive Sweet 16 appearances. Michigan, whose starting point guard is former UNC player Elliot Cadeau, plays Alabama on Friday night.

May is known for taking Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023. He was FAU's head coach from 2018-2024 before taking the Michigan job.

Miami coach Jai Lucas

Jai Lucas, 37, has been the Miami head coach for a season, leading the Hurricanes to a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  Miami lost to Purdue in the second round.

Lucas led the Canes to a 26-9 record in his first season with the program. He served as an assistant at Duke from 2022-25. His parents are from Durham and have ties to the area.

Lucas played collegiately at Florida (2007-08) and Texas (2009-2011) before an overseas professional career.

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens

Brad Stevens is 49 years old and last coached in 2021 before moving to the Celtics’ front office. He last coached college in 2013.

Stevens led Butler to two consecutive Final Four appearances in 2010 and 2011. Butler nearly upset Duke in the 2010 national championship game as Gordon Hayward narrowly missed a half-court shot as time expired.

Perhaps UNC could appeal to Stevens’ competitive nature by giving him another opportunity to beat Duke.

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington

Mark Byington has led Vanderbilt to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The Commodores were a half-court heave away from advancing to the Sweet 16, falling short against Nebraska.

Byington, 49, was also the head coach at James Madison (2020-24) and Georgia Southern (2013-2020).

Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger

T.J. Otzelberger, 48, has led Iowa State to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Iowa State plays Tennessee on Friday night in the Sweet 16.

Otzelberger has also coached at UNLV (2019-2021) and South Dakota State (2016-2019). 

Former UNC player and TNT basketball analyst Kenny Smith

This may seem like a long shot, but Kenny “the Jet” Smith played at UNC from 1983 to 1987.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has publicly stumped for Smith to become UNC’s head coach.

Meanwhile, “NBA on TNT” analyst Charles Barkley has teased Smith about the possibility.

The 61-year-old has zero coaching experience, even as an assistant. He had a 10-year NBA career.

Kenny Smith’s son, Malloy Smith, is committed to playing next season at UNC. It's unclear if he will keep his commitment with UNC firing Davis.

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd

Tommy Lloyd, 51, has spent most of his career on the West Coast.

However, he’s led Arizona to five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since taking over the program in 2021.

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few

It’s hard to imagine Mark Few anywhere other than Gonzaga.

Few, 63, has been Gonzaga’s head coach since 1999 and has worked on the program’s staff since 1989.

Gonzaga has made two Final Fours in Few’s tenure (2017 and 2021), but has never won the national championship.

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood

Brad Underwood, 62, has guided the Illini to six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances after taking over the program in 2017. However, the Elite Eight is the farthest they’ve made it in the tournament.

Underwood has previous head coaching experience at Oklahoma State (2016-17) and Stephen F. Austin (2013-2016).

WRAL investigative reporter Brian Murphy contributed to this story.