UNC HANDS REINS TO ASSISTANT DAVIS
North Carolina turned to former Tar Heels player and assistant coach Hubert Davis to lead the storied men’s basketball program as the successor to Hall of Famer Roy Williams.
Davis, 50, played for the Tar Heels under Dean Smith before a long NBA career, and he spent the past nine seasons working under Williams.
The school announced the hiring Monday after an emergency meeting by its board of trustees. UNC is planning an introductory news conference for Davis today.
“I love this university,“Davis said in a statement. “I played here, I earned my degree here, I fell in love with my wife here, I got married here, I moved here after I retired from the NBA and I have raised my family here. I am proud to lead this team, and I can’t wait for all that comes next.”
Williams retired last week after 18 seasons at his alma mater in a career that also included 15 years at Kansas and 903 overall victories. All three of his NCAA championships came with the Tar Heels.
The school has long had a history of turning to people with UNC ties to lead its program, which owns six NCAA championships and ranks among college basketball’s all-time wins leaders. It has worked before, with longtime assistant Bill Guthridge taking over after Smith’s 1997 retirement and leading the Tar Heels to two Final Fours, as well as Williams’ return from Kansas in 2003.
But it didn’t work during the three-year tumultuous tenure of Matt Doherty — including an 8-20 season in 2002 — after Williams turned down the job following Guthridge’s retirement in 2000.
The Tar Heels are staying in the “Carolina family” again, this time by turning to a trusted former player who has never been a college head coach. His hiring also marks a groundbreaking moment as the first Black coach in the history of the program.
“I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead this program,” Davis said.
Notable
UConn freshman star
Paige Bueckers was named the winner of the John R. Wooden Award winner.
• East Tennessee State hired Tennessee assistant
Desmond Oliver as the Buccaneers’ new men’s coach, six days after Jason Shay resigned unexpectedly after one season. Oliver, 51, is the first Black coach in the history of ETSU men’s basketball.
• Central Michigan fired men’s coach Keno Davis after nine years at the helm. CMU announced the move Monday. The Chippewas went 142143 under Davis and did not make the NCAA Tournament.
• Texas Tech is promoting top assistant and school alumnus Mark Adams to replace Chris Beard as head coach.
• Loyola Chicago promoted assistant Drew Valentine to head coach, hoping he can build on the success the Ramblers experienced under
Porter Moser.
• Maryland senior guard
Darryl Morsell, the 2021 Big Ten defensive player of the year, will test the NBA Draft waters while maintaining his collegiate eligibility for a fifth season at Maryland or at another school as a transfer.
• Kentucky point guard
Devin Askew entered the NCAA transfer portal after starting 20 of 25 games as a Wildcats freshman.