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UNC in the NBA: Is Jerry Stackhouse a favorite for Raptors job?

By Zack Pearson

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - SEPTEMBER 2: NBA basketball player Jerry Stackhouse of the Dallas Mavericks addresses a press conference on September 2, Seoul in South Korea. NBA Basketball player Jerry Stackhouse and Jay Williams will appear at the 2004 adidas Streetball Challenge Asian final in Seoul. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - SEPTEMBER 2: NBA basketball player Jerry Stackhouse of the Dallas Mavericks addresses a press conference on September 2, Seoul in South Korea. NBA Basketball player Jerry Stackhouse and Jay Williams will appear at the 2004 adidas Streetball Challenge Asian final in Seoul. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) /
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Former UNC standout Jerry Stackhouse could be one of the favorites for the Toronto Raptors head coaching job

Despite completing their best season record-wise in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors made the decision to fire head coach Dwane Casey after seven seasons. The Raptors were bounced from the NBA Playoffs in the second round, being swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It was the second-straight year the Raptors were swept by the Cavaliers and the third-straight they were eliminated by the them.

The Raptors are just the latest team to have a head coaching vacancy in the NBA and a former North Carolina Tar Heels standout could be one of the favorites to replace Casey.

There will be a few really solid candidates out there for the Raptors but Stackhouse might be the most intriguing one.

Stackhouse has served as head coach of Toronto’s G-League team, Raptors 905, for the past two seasons. He’s been to the G-League Finals in both seasons, winning it all in 2017 and coming up short in 2018.

More recently, Stackhouse was interviewed for the New York Knicks head coaching vacancy so his name is a popular one among league teams. New York eventually offered the job to David Fizdale.

The thing that is most intriguing about Stackhouse is his player development. He’s respected among players throughout the league as he played in the NBA for 18 seasons, putting together an impressive career.

Stackhouse will certainly be considered for the head coaching job and will likely have an interview with the team. This could be his best chance to land a head coaching job as he’s familiar with the organization both coaches and players.

There hasn’t an interview set between Stackhouse and the Raptors to our knowledge but expect it to happen soon.

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For more on former UNC players in the NBA, please check back with Keeping It Heel as we provide updates.

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