Michael Malone's to-do list with UNC basketball as Tar Heels new coach

Michael Malone will be the next UNC men’s basketball coach, USA TODAY Sports confirmed on Monday, April 6.

It’s been 25 years since Malone was an assistant coach at Manhattan. The 54-year-old veteran will be in charge of a college program for the first time in his three-decade career.

A 13-day search that started after the firing of Hubert Davis comes to a close with Malone, who will be UNC’s first hire outside of the Tar Heel “family” since Frank McGuire in 1952. With the transfer portal set to open April 7, Malone won’t have time to settle down and enjoy dinner at Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery in Chapel Hill.

GET TO KNOW MALONE: Michael Malone discussed UNC basketball, coaching philosophy on Tar Heels podcast

UNC TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: UNC basketball transfer portal tracker, who’s in, who’s out on 2026-27 roster

Here are four items that need to be on Malone’s to-do list as he prepares for his debut season with the Tar Heels.

Get Henri Veesaar to stay with UNC basketball, wait for NBA Draft

Malone’s top priority needs to be finding a way to keep 7-foot center Henri Veesaar on campus for a final season in Chapel Hill. Veesaar, who is projected to be picked toward the end of the first round or early in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, is coming off an impressive debut season with the Tar Heels.

After averaging 17 points on 60.8% shooting, including a 42.6% clip from 3-point range, Veesaar’s stock might never be higher than it is right now. But he has a chance to be the centerpiece of Malone’s first roster at UNC as a potent inside-out threat. The Tar Heels need some stability and they need to pay Veesaar whatever it takes to keep him around.

Find a lead guard to take Tar Heels to next level

Donald Williams in 1993, Wayne Ellington in 2009, Joel Berry in 2017. Each of those Tar Heels are among the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Players, helping UNC cut down the nets in national championship seasons. And, in the Tar Heels’ other title-winning years (1957, 1982, 2005), elite guard play paved the path to the promised land.

Seth Trimble and Derek Dixon were solid in the 2025-26 season, but Trimble has exhausted his eligibility and Dixon announced his plan to enter the transfer portal on April 6. Either way, UNC needed to enter next season with a true lead guard, someone capable of creating consistent paint touches and generating offense when things are stagnant. Malone has to find a way to get a guard who can run the team.

Build a bigger lineup and load up on size at UNC

The Tar Heels leaned into the positional-size philosophy by employing a lineup that included 6-foot-10 Jarin Stevenson, 6-foot-10 Caleb Wilson and 7-footer Henri Veesaar last season. Stevenson was solid at times, but Wilson and Veesaar formed a historic duo with production in the post that hadn’t been reached since 1960 at UNC.

But the Tar Heels didn’t have a backup plan or the depth to navigate Wilson’s season-ending injury. Teams exposed the Tar Heels on the boards, the perimeter and thrived when Veesaar needed a breather. UNC’s best teams featured skilled bigs and wings and Malone saw the importance of utilizing size during his time in the NBA. The Heels need to load up on getting longer in the post and on the perimeter.

Hire coaching, front-office staff with different experiences

The “Carolina Family” has had one of its own in the head chair since Dean Smith was hired in 1961. From Smith to Bill Guthride to Matt Doherty to Roy Williams and Davis, a Tar Heel was always the leader of the Tar Heels. That changes with Malone, which isn’t a bad thing.

While it’s important for UNC to appreciate its history and keep some of those “family” ties connected to bridge the gap, Malone needs to have different perspectives on his coaching and support staff. As an NBA guy, there’s sure to be plenty of pro flavor in Chapel Hill. But Malone also needs to get some college voices who can help him navigate a move from pro ball to a pro-ball-like model. A great staff on the court and behind the scenes will be essential if Malone’s Tar Heels want to experience instant success.

Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC basketball to-do list under coach Michael Malone

Michael Malone’s to-do list with UNC basketball as Tar Heels new coach

Tags: