All eyes are on the transfer portal for Michael Malone and North Carolina, but it's also easy to forget that the new leader in Chapel Hill has to fill out his staff and fast. For a couple of days now, though, there's been buzz that the Tar Heels are going to poach a coach from the SEC ranks. Well, that just got done.
3 dream transfer portal targets UNC and Michael Malone need to go after
Yup, Chuck Martin is a veteran of the game and he's been making a splash working with John Calipari at Arkansas. Most recently, he helped the Razorbacks land the commitment of 5-star playmaker Jordan Smith, ranked the No. 1 combo guard in the country - yup, he's quite the recruiter. And now, Martin is going to be helping Malone land some big-name recruits, as Jon Rothstein has reported he's making the move to Carolina:
Sources: Arkansas' Chuck Martin is finalizing a contract to be the Associate Head Coach at North Carolina under Michael Malone.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 8, 2026
Martin --- who worked with Malone many years ago at Manhattan --- was instrumental in back-to-back top-five recruiting classes for the Razorbacks.
Michael Malone poaching Chuck Martin is huge for UNC
This is a move that Jeff Goodman is also a big fan of, as he strongly hinted the hire was going to be made. Goodman offered up his thoughts below while speaking with UNC legends Tyler Hansbrough, John Henson and Justin Jackson.
“It looks like he’s going to bring in Chucky Martin - they worked together under Bobby Gonzalez 25 years ago for a short period of time. Chuck’s been all over the place, most recently at Arkansas. A veteran that can help him, even if it’s just connecting with the right people and I think that’s incredibly important.”
No doubt about it, this is a monster get for the Tar Heels and Malone. Martin's resume alone is quite impressive, as he got his coaching start with Manhattan in 1999. Since then, he's been on the bench for UMass, Drexel, St. John's, Memphis, Marist, Indiana, South Carolina, Oregon, Kentucky and now Arkansas.
He's been Calipari's right-hand man of late, but Malone is now giving him a new opportunity that he's going to be ready to hit the ground running with. With his experience, plus ability to make an impact out on the recruiting trail, this indeed is a home-run call for UNC. Look for Martin to make an immediate splash or two as well, as the portal is wide open and fans are ready for some elite transfers to commit to the ACC powerhouse.