Many Gonzaga fans were surprised to see assistant coach Jorge Sanz announce he was leaving the program after eight seasons in Spokane.
What we found out shortly after was that not only was Sanz leaving Gonzaga, but he already had a new opportunity lined up elsewhere.
That opportunity, fittingly enough, is in Chapel Hill.
Jorge Sanz to be hired as part of Michael Malone's staff at UNC
As first reported by Theo Lawson of The Spokesman-Review, Sanz is set to become the next, and potentially final, member of Michael Malone's first coaching staff at the University of North Carolina.
I've also learned North Carolina will be the next destination for Gonzaga assistant/Director of Operations Jorge Sanz, who's set to work under new Tar Heels coach Michael Malone in Chapel Hill. The guys at @hokcbb were on it first. https://t.co/kSttvoUagm
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) July 23, 2026
So, you may be asking: who is Jorge Sanz and why is his addition a notable one?
Well, during his eight seasons at Gonzaga, Sanz served as an assistant coach on Spanish national youth teams, earning accreditation as an Entrenador Superior, which, in case you're unfamiliar with it, is widely recognized as the highest level of coaching certification in Spain, particularly within national basketball federations.
Since 2010, Sanz has been rising up the coaching ranks. The Spain native started his coaching career at Florida Atlantic, working his way up from video coordinator to assistant coach over his eight seasons spent there. He then transitioned to join Mark Few's staff at Gonzaga as the program's director of basketball operations, ultimately being promoted to an assistant coach role in 2023.
One of the summer's biggest risers is now on Michael Malone & UNC's radar
While at Gonzaga, Sanz had many roles, ranging from work in analytics, player development, international recruiting and non-conference scheduling. He is credited for playing a major role in helping Gonzaga maintain its international appeal when Tommy Lloyd left campus to head to Arizona.
Given his international background, this is another very strategic hire by Malone for his first staff at North Carolina. Malone has put staff members around him that not only have UNC ties and understand the history and tradition of the program, but also some newcomers who bring a vast amount of experience and expertise in certain aspects.
Similar to Chuck Martin's addition, adding Sanz seems like a major indication that the Tar Heels want to continue capitalizing on the international recruiting trail moving forward.
It's very possible that Sanz might be the final piece to Malone's first staff at UNC, as we are starting to get a better sense of what the staff will look like come opening night.
Returning Coaches:
Sean May
Pat Sullivan
New Hires:
Chuck Martin (Arkansas)
Bryan Tibaldi (Providence)
Jorge Sanz (Reported- Gonzaga)
Support Roles:
Deon Thompson
Brandon Robinson
Let's remember: a head coach is only as good as the people around him. A strong staff, from the assistants to the staff members behind the scenes, is critical to a program's success, as Malone is doing his best to surround himself with the best staff possible leading up to his first season as a head coach at the collegiate level.
Now, the pieces, just like the roster, are falling into place, just in time for this year's team to ramp up its efforts to prepare for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google