UNC basketball head coach big board (Vol. 1)

Story by

Zack Pearson, Tar Heels Wire

Wed, Mar 25, 2026 ·

4 min read

The North Carolina Tar Heels' basketball program is searching for a new coach after the university fired Hubert Davis on Tuesday . The move came five days after the Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead to VCU in the NCAA Tournament first round.

For the first time in years, the Tar Heels will have a true coaching search. After Roy Williams retired, there was, officially, a search, but there was also a succession plan to hand the reins to Davis. Now, UNC will launch an extensive search with no successor already anointed. Despite recent struggles, this is still North Carolina. It will be the top job available pending Bill Self's decision at Kansas.

Here is our first hot board for the open North Carolina job, which should generate a great deal of interest and attention. These are coaches we believe should be targeted by North Carolina though they may not end up being candidates.

This board will change and be updated when we learn more about candidates actually in play.

Top target: Todd Golden (Florida Gators)

Florida head coach Todd Golden reacts during the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

After winning the national championship in 2025, Todd Golden earned an extension with the Florida Gators . In 2026, he had the Gators as a title front-runner. However, the No. 1 seed in the South Region was stunned by Iowa in the round of 32.

In four NCAA tournaments, Golden is 7-3. Six of those wins came in 2025.

He's one of the top up-and-coming coaches with a .677 winning percentage spanning his career with San Francisco and Florida. He would be a big-time hire for the Tar Heels, but his buyout of $16 million could be an obstacle.

Top target: Dusty May (Michigan)

Apr 1, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls guard Jalen Gaffney (12) talkes with head coach Dusty May during the first half against the San Diego State Aztecs in the semifinals of the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

In his second season with Michigan , Dusty May has the Wolverines among the best in the Big Ten and the country. They earned a No. 1 seed after winning the Big Ten regular season title and have advanced to the Sweet 16.

Prior to Michigan, May spent six seasons at Florida Atlantic and took them to the Final Four.

Top target: Tommy Lloyd (Arizona)

Mar 16, 2023; Sacramento, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd reacts during the second half at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

After being a long-time assistant at Gonzaga from 2001-2021, Tommy Lloyd took over at Arizona and has taken them to the NCAA Tournament in each season. Under Lloyd, Arizona has reached the Sweet 16 four of his five tournaments including this year.

Lloyd was named the Sporting News Coach of the Year in 2026. He might be the hardest of the top candidates to pull out of their current school.

Nate Oats (Alabama)

Oct 18, 2023; Brimingham, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats talks with the media during the SEC Basketball Tipoff at Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Oats is in his seventh season as the coach at Alabama, going 170-72 so far. He's made the tournament six straight years, including four trips to the Sweet 16. The Tide made a run to the Final Four a few years back after beating North Carolina.

Oats comes with baggage, however, as a result of multiple incidents during his tenure with the Crimson Tide.

Rising candidate: Mark Byington (Vanderbilt)

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington reacts to a call during the first half of a SEC tournament quarterfinal game against Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 13, 2026.

Another rising coach, Mark Byington had an impressive season at Vanderbilt. It made a run to the SEC championship game and earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores lost a heartbreaker to Nebraska in the second round.

Byington has turned around the Vanderbilt program and is a name to keep an eye on.

The NBA candidate: Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)

Mar 18, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

With experience at the college and NBA level, Billy Donovan could be an option for the Tar Heels. But would he want to come back to the college level? Donovan won two championships with Florida. Given the Chicago Bulls are entering another rebuilding period, he might be worth the call.

The Family candidate: Jerry Stackhouse (Assistant coach Golden State)

Mar 1, 2023; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Jerry Stackhouse yells across the court during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Stackhouse played at North Carolina and gained his coaching start with Vanderbilt. Since being fired from Vanderbilt, he has worked in the NBA. If UNC wants to keep the hire in the family, he's at the top of the list.

OUT of the running: Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics front office)

Sep 29, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talks to reporters during media day at the Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

UPDATE: Brad Stevens has reportedly pulled himself out of the running for the job.

The former Butler coach would be a dream hire for the Tar Heels, but can they pull him out of the Boston Celtics front office? Stevens last coached in the college game in 2013 and last coached overall in 2021 with the Celtics before moving to a front office role.

After Stevens reportedly turned down the Indiana job, can UNC make him change his mind? You at least have to make him say no.

OUT of the running: T.J. Otzelberger (Iowa State)

Mar 13, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger gives direction during the first half against the Arizona Wildcats at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

UPDATE: According to a report, T.J. Otzelberger is staying at Iowa State.

T.J. Otzelberger has done a fantastic job at Iowa State. He has taken the Cyclones to three Sweet 16s in the last five years in Ames. That includes this season: He has the second-seeded Cyclones among the top teams in the country.

Since arriving in Ames, Otzelberger has become one of the best coaches in the country. He's done well in the transfer portal and his guys have bought into his vision. He would bring a hard-nosed, defensive mentality to the program at a time when it feels like it needs to toughen up.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Basketball: Head coach big board volume 1