North Carolina men’s basketball coach Michael Malone’s first coaching staff will make more than $1.7 million, according to a database of salaries for UNC-System employees.
UNC hasn’t released the contracts or other details of Malone’s coaching staff.
Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the NBA Championship in 2023, was hired in April to replace Hubert Davis, who was fired after five seasons in Chapel Hill.
Malone agreed to a six-year, $50-million contract, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball. He will make $7.5 million in the first year.
Salaries for Malone’s assistants:
Chuck Martin, who was an assistant coach at Arkansas last year, will be paid $500,000 this year. Pat Sullivan, a former UNC player and holdover from Davis’ staff, will make $390,143 this year. Sullivan’s previous two-year contract, which expired on June 30, paid him $369,071.Bryan Tibaldi, who was an assistant coach at Providence last season, will be paid $365,000 this year.Sean May, a former UNC player and another holdover from Davis’ staff, will make $344,659 this year. May’s previous two-year contract, which expired on June 30, paid him $312,290.Brandon Robinson, a former UNC player who coached with the Salt Lake Stars of the NBA’s G League last season, will make $125,000 this year.
“Tremendous amount of respect for this program and the history that they occupy in NCAA basketball history, but we’re going to do it our way,” Malone said at his introductory press conference. “I’m going to use people like Coach [Roy] Williams, Coach Eddie Fogler, Pat Sullivan, Sean May, all the guys that are here and learn from them and push forward.”
UNC general manager Jim Tanner, who signed a five-year contract in 2025, will make $950,000.
Davis’ assistants Jeff Lebo and Brad Frederick weren’t retained by Malone. Both of their contracts expired on June 30.