Oh, this could be something, alright... With news coming out that former Providence Friars head coach Kim English will not have a role on Michael Malone's first UNC staff, another candidate has emerged. That would be former Cleveland Cavaliers top assistant Bryan Tibaldi. He has served under both Kenny Atkinson and JB Bickerstaff over the last six seasons. He also worked for English before...
Tibaldi is 41 years old and has worked for the Cavaliers organization in multiple roles, including leading their G League team Canton Charge back in the day. He played his college hoops at Michigan State for Tom Izzo from 2005 to 2007, where he would serve as a graduate assistant for two more years after that. One of his stops was being English's video coordinator during their time at Missouri.
Overall, Malone seems to be looking at an up-and-coming coach who has both strong ties to the NBA and the college game. Everyone knows what the Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls are about, as well as Michigan State and Missouri on the college hardwood. Since this is not as high-profile of a hire, it may have a better chance of sticking. Either way, Malone will need to finalize his first UNC staff here soon.
How the pieces come together will determine if Malone has a successul first season at UNC or not.
Michael Malone eyeing a role for Bryan Tibaldi on his North Carolina staff
The single-most important thing Malone has to establish in year one at North Carolina is consistency. While play may fluctuate, it is all about making sure the messages from the coaching staff remain on point, and that there are no slight deviations in what needs to come across. Malone does take over a traditional power, but one that did not get out of the first round of the tournament back in March...
Fans, and maybe even players, may not be patient with the state of UNC basketball, but they are going to have to be. As the pieces slowly but surely come together, Malone needs people on his bench he can lean on. He thought English could be an answer to that, but it was not meant to be. If it ends up being Tibaldi, then it shows what Malone is really going to be about leading these Tar Heels.
What you have to remember is both Atkinson and Bickerstaff are basketball coaches keen on player development. They have had respectable careers in the NBA as head coaches and top assistants because they prioritize this. Malone may need to up his ante in terms of recruitment, but this seems like a plausible pathway forward for UNC hoops. Either way, this is a plan that could work for them.
With spring semester coming to a close, now is the time for Malone to get everything lined up here.
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