Hubert Davis will not return as coach of North Carolina

North Carolina head men’s basketball coach Hubert Davis will not return next year, the program announced, bringing a conclusion to a tumultuous week following the Tar Heels’ stunning loss to VCU in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament.

Davis informed his team of his departure on Tuesday night, sources said. His departure looms large over a historic program that has long leaned on alumni and the so-called Carolina Way, and opens up one of the most coveted positions in all of basketball.

Davis has about $5.3 million in guaranteed money left on his contract, and the university said it will “honor the terms” of his contract in a statement Tuesday night. A national search is underway for his replacement.

Thursday’s loss to 11-seed VCU drew an emotional response from the UNC fan base and donors, as Davis’ Tar Heels exited in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. The Tar Heels led the Rams by 19 in the second half but collapsed down the stretch en route to an 82-78 overtime loss. It was the biggest comeback in the NCAA tournament since 2018.

Davis appeared sour and agitated at the postgame press conference, refusing to know the specifics of the fall and responding to a mild question about his in-game rotation by saying, “Because it was my decision.”

North Carolina went 24-9 this season, despite top-five pick Caleb Wilson missing the final nine games with two different hand and thumb injuries. The Tar Heels improved to 19-4 with a win over Duke on Feb. 7 but went just 5-5 the rest of the way.

It was the second straight season UNC failed to get out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Ole Miss in the round of 64 after defeating San Diego State in the first four. The Tar Heels were one of the final at-large teams selected for last year’s tournament, receiving a bid despite a 1-12 record against Quadrant 1 opponents.

Davis was promoted to head coach after Roy Williams retired in 2021 after spending nine seasons as an assistant coach on Williams’ staff.

“We appreciate what Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader — he has helped create special memories that we will never forget,” athletics director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “This was not an easy decision given Hubert’s tremendous character and what he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at the elite level.”

Hubert’s first three seasons came with a mix of highs and lows. Davis led Carolina to the national championship game in 2022 as an 8-seed, defeating Duke in the Final Four in Mike Krzyzewski’s final game as head coach of the Blue Devils. The Tar Heels led Kansas by 15 points at halftime in the title game and allowed the Jayhawks to come back and win 72-69.

North Carolina entered the postseason as the preseason No. 1 team in the nation — before becoming the first preseason No. 1 team to miss the NCAA Tournament.

They bounced back in 2023–24, defeating Duke twice en route to the ACC regular-season title and a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament, victories that proved to be the highest moments of Davis’ tenure. UNC defeated Wagner and Michigan State in the first two rounds before being upset by Alabama in the Sweet 16, finishing 29-8 overall. Davis won the ACC Coach of the Year award this season.

In five seasons at the helm, Davis is 125-54. That’s a winning percentage of just under 70%.

Davis is a longtime Tar Heel, playing his college ball under Dean Smith at Chapel Hill from 1988 to ’92, earning All-ACC honors as a senior. He was a first-round pick of the New York Knicks and played 12 seasons for six NBA franchises before moving to television as a college basketball analyst for ESPN.

Bill Guthridge’s departure in 1999-00 opened the door to North Carolina’s first move outside the family since his three-season tenure. Matt Doherty, Roy Williams and Davis are all UNC alumni.