{"id":677565,"date":"2026-03-25T02:28:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T02:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/677565\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T02:28:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T02:28:13","slug":"who-could-be-uncs-next-mens-basketball-head-coach-heres-a-list-of-potential-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/677565\/","title":{"rendered":"Who could be UNC’s next men’s basketball head coach? Here’s a list of potential candidates."},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the firing<\/a> of UNC men\u2019s basketball head coach Hubert Davis on Tuesday night, \u00a0the search for a new head coach is underway.<\/p>\n

Each North Carolina head coach since Dean Smith,\u00a0 who was hired in 1961, has been a part of the Carolina Family. However, with no immediate option jumping out, UNC\u2019s administration might have to abandon that philosophy. And as one of the top jobs open in the country, North Carolina will likely have a long list of potential replacements \u2014 some realistic and some not.<\/p>\n

Though, for a program like UNC, those calls are at least worth making. <\/p>\n

The University will be conducting a national search, spearheaded by athletic director Bubba Cunningham and AD-in-waiting Steve Newmark, according to a UNC press release. North Carolina has also hired Turnkey ZRG to help with the search. In addition, an advisory board of former players, coaches and UNC supporters will be consulted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are potential candidates for the head coaching vacancy, in no particular order:<\/p>\n

Todd Golden (Florida)<\/p>\n

Golden just finished his fourth \u00a0season as the head coach of the Gators and is one of the biggest names on the list. Last year, he led Florida to its first national championship since 2007 and guided the Gators to a No. 1 seed again this year. During his tenure, he has tallied a 103-41 record and one SEC Tournament championship. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to see Golden leaving Florida considering the success he has had, but it\u2019s a call UNC should make to at least gauge interest. And with the Gators bowing out in the second round this year, Golden might seriously consider a move. <\/p>\n

Mark Few (Gonzaga)<\/p>\n

Few has built a powerhouse at Gonzaga. However, the one elusive feat he hasn\u2019t yet claimed is winning a national championship. In his 27 years at Gonzaga, he has compiled a 773-156\u00a0record, winning 23 regular season championships and 21 WCC Tournament championships. Few has been to 26 NCAA Tournaments and made two Final Four appearances.<\/p>\n

The question is, will Few want to leave Gonzaga or continue to pursue a national championship there? With close ties to Roy Williams, North Carolina might be a jump he\u2019s willing to make to see if he can reach the sport\u2019s pinnacle. <\/p>\n

But UNC\u2019s administration must consider his age. Few is 63, and while he can get the program back on track, does North Carolina really want to look for another coach in the next five to 10 years?<\/p>\n

Nate Oats (Alabama)<\/p>\n

In seven seasons at Alabama, Oats has racked up a 170-72 record and made six NCAA Tournament appearances, including one Final Four. He has added two SEC regular season and tournament championships.<\/p>\n

He led the Crimson Tide to the No. 1 overall seed in 2023, the first in program history and has produced a No. 2 NBA Draft pick in Brandon Miller. <\/p>\n

A coach who focuses on three point shooting and high scoring, Oats would bring a different dynamic to Chapel Hill.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Josh Schertz (St. Louis)<\/p>\n

Schertz is a name that might fly under the radar and might not exactly be the big name hire UNC is looking to make, but his track record speaks for itself despite only coaching at mid-majors. <\/p>\n

After three years at Indiana State, Schertz made the move to St. Louis and took the Billikens to the NCAA Tournament this year in just his second season with the program. In the first round, No. 9-seeded St. Louis blew out No. 8-seeded Georgia, 102-77, before falling to Michigan in the second round. <\/p>\n

T.J.\u00a0Otzelberger (Iowa State)<\/p>\n

Otzelberger might be one of the best candidates in the cycle should he choose to leave the Cyclones. After taking over a 2-22 team in 2021, Otzelberger hasn\u2019t had a losing season at Iowa State in his five years at the helm.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s made it to the NCAA Tournament each year and currently has the No. 2-seeded Cyclones in the Sweet 16. With a 124-52 record at Iowa State, the 48 -year-old would be a big-time hire for the Tar Heels. <\/p>\n

Mark Byington (Vanderbilt)<\/p>\n

Byington is one of the most realistic candidates on this list. Vanderbilt is a tough program to win at. Despite that, Byington has made the NCAA Tournament in each of his two years with the Commodores, most recently leading them to a No. 4 seed despite losing in the second round.<\/p>\n

At 49 years old, Byington could coach at North Carolina for a long time. Success has followed him at every stop and with the resources that UNC has, that would likely continue in Chapel Hill. <\/p>\n

Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics)<\/p>\n

Stevens is a name that almost always comes up when a major head coaching job opens in college basketball. He spent five seasons at Butler before making the jump to the NBA. He has since moved to the position of president of basketball operations for the Celtics, with a move back down to college being unlikely but not out of the realm of possibility. It\u2019s certainly a call worth making. <\/p>\n

Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)<\/p>\n

Donovan is probably slightly more realistic than Stevens. Another successful college coach \u2014 winning back-to-back national titles at Florida in 2006 and 2007 \u2014 who made the leap to the NBA. Much like Stevens, his name always pops up, but neither have navigated the current landscape of college sports. However, he might be looking for a change as the Bulls have struggled \u00a0this year and could move on from Donovan. <\/p>\n

Travis Steele (Miami University (OH))<\/p>\n

Steele is another under-the-radar guy who has found success at Miami University (OH). After going 12-20 in his first season and 15-17 in his second, Steele put together a 25-9 season. This year, Miami University (OH) finished the regular season undefeated and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after suffering its first loss in the MAC conference tournament.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s certainly not the big time splash hire many fans might want and one North Carolina might not even consider at all. But after going undefeated, it\u2019s clear he can win and could bring that to a major program. <\/p>\n

Grant McCasland (Texas Tech)<\/p>\n

In three years at Texas Tech, McCasland has tallied a 74-31 record and had the Red Raiders ranked at some point in each season. He\u2019s made three NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently as a No. 5 seed. Texas Tech likely would have earned a higher seed if not for the injury of All-American JT Toppin, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury. <\/p>\n

The biggest obstacle for getting McClasland would be money. And Texas Tech has a lot. With the new NIL era, it\u2019s easier to win at schools that haven\u2019t necessarily had historical success but have the pockets to be successful currently.<\/p>\n

Ben McCollum (Iowa)<\/p>\n

In his first season with Iowa, McCollum has the Hawkeyes in the Sweet 16 after taking down No. 1 seed Florida in the second round. McCollum has only been a Division I head coach for two seasons but has made it to the tournament in both. At 44 years old and with a proven track record developing players, McCollum should be someone UNC looks at for a potential long-term tenure.<\/p>\n

@mdmaynard74<\/a><\/p>\n

@dthsports<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0sports@dailytarheel.com<\/a><\/p>\n