UNC Basketball set to hire Hubert Davis as next head coach

It didn’t take the UNC Basketball program long to find their successor for legendary head coach Roy Williams following his retirement.

In less than a week, the University of North Carolina has made the decision to hire longtime assistant Hubert Davis as the next head coach for the men’s basketball program according to multiple reports. The announcement comes following an emergency meeting with the University’s board of trustees on Monday to discuss a contract for Davis.

The new head coach earned the endorsement from Williams, who had a say in the coaching search as he was on his way out. The move also keeps the coaching position inside the “Carolina Family”, something that the athletics department values.

Davis was among the first to interview for the position after spending nine seasons as an assistant under Williams. He’s learned the system and has had a big impact on the recruiting trail under Williams over the years, helping land some big commitments.

The  former four-year standout at North Carolina under Dean Smith was selected as a first-round pick by the New York Knicks in the 1992 NBA Draft. Following a long NBA career, Davis became an analyst for college basketball. He then decided to make the jump to the coaching ranks by joining Williams’ staff in 2012.

Williams spent 18 of his 33 seasons coaching at North Carolina, winning the National Championship three times, reaching the Final Four five times and passed his mentor Dean Smith in all-time wins along the way. With his decision to retire following a unique 2020-21 season, the future of the program is now in the hands of Davis as he gets his shot to try and work some magic.

Others who were interviewed for the position include Wes Miller, Jerry Stackhouse, and King Rice among others.

For more on Davis and the UNC Basketball program, please make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel.