Michael Malone Hired, UNC Basketball and the Transfer Portal, Maximo Adams still a Tar Heel
Plus: Bill Belichick goes Bananas, three Women's Basketball transfer commitments, Softball no-hitter, new Baseball commitment
What a week! Michael Malone was hired as UNC’s new Men’s Basketball coach, the transfer portal is in overdrive, Maximo Adams is still a Tar Heel, Bill Belichick went Bananas, Women’s Basketball landed three commitments, there was a Softball no-hitter, and a new Baseball commitment. On to the updates…
🏀 Basketball, Recruiting & Transfer Portal
24-year NBA coaching veteran Michael Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA title, is UNC’s 21st men’s basketball head coach. Iowa’s Ben McCollum turned down the offer to interview for the job, and the search quickly pivoted to Malone, per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.
The University of North Carolina and Michael Malone have finalized a six-year, $50 million deal that will pay the NBA Champion head coach an average of $8.3 million dollars per year, according to a source. That will make Malone the second-highest paid college basketball coach in the country behind Kansas’ Bill Self.
Malone was far from a “last resort” hire by the Tar Heels. He’d been on the search committee’s radar from the beginning, having visited UNC basketball practices while spending time in Chapel Hill with his daughter, Bridget, who plays volleyball at Carolina. Malone was also a top name in the New Orleans Pelicans and other NBA coaching searches.
Now the real work has begun for Malone as he continues building his staff and next season’s roster for the Tar Heels. Here’s the latest on where things stand in the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail…
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