UNC Basketball: Jackie Manuel expected to leave staff

The UNC basketball program will have a staff position to fill, as former Tar Heel Jackie Manuel is expected to accept a position elsewhere.

We’ve seen plenty of roster departures for the UNC basketball program this offseason, but now a member of the team’s staff is expected to head elsewhere as well.

As first reported by Inside Carolina, Jackie Manuel is expected to leave the program. The former Tar Heel will leave his current role as director of team and player development to take on an assistant coaching job at American University.

This move will reunite Manuel with Duane Simpkins, who was hired as American’s new head coach. The two previously worked together as assistant coaches for three seasons at UNC Greensboro under the direction of former Tar Heel Wes Miller.

A starter on the 2005 national championship team, Manuel spent the last two seasons as the UNC basketball program’s director of team and player development. Before that, Manuel spent a season as the director of player personnel, development, and recruiting operations for the UNC women’s basketball team.

Manuel made an impact on the Tar Heels’ players, especially Leaky Black. Often, Black has credited Manuel for helping him work through his struggles with anxiety, as the deep bond they created played a big role in Black’s final two seasons at North Carolina.

As he continues to rise up the coaching ranks, no one can blame Manuel for taking on a bigger role elsewhere. However, his loss is a big one, as he definitely made an impact on the UNC basketball program over the last two seasons.

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