The Diamond Heels opened up the Chapel Hill Regional on Friday night at Boshamer Stadium, a game that drew a sold-out crowd for the event.
Of course, there are plenty of notable Tar Heels in attendance (as is often the case for postseason baseball at the Bosh). One of those major attendees is none other than Michael Malone, the new head coach of the UNC basketball program.
Michael Malone taking some time to support the Diamond Heels
While he hasn't been at the helm at North Carolina for very long, Michael Malone has already shown love to other teams that wear the Carolina blue.
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Earlier in the season, Malone threw out the first pitch at Boshamer Stadium shortly after he was hired as the program's next head coach. Now, he's showing up to support the Diamond Heels as they start their quest to Omaha.
Coach Michael Malone at UNC baseball game. pic.twitter.com/gTf5EV3SIz
— Jay (@Jayy_Hardyy252) May 29, 2026
When asked prior to the start of the regionals, head coach Scott Forbes was very appreciative of the support the UNC basketball program's staff has given him and his team:
“Coach Malone, so far, has been awesome. Eric Hoots, Pat Sullivan, Sean May come up (to Boshamer). Basketball is such a big deal here, and to have their support — it's a big deal for me and for our program.”
It's always awesome to see coaches from other sports taking time to go support the Tar Heels. Roy Williams was a classic supporter of anything legitimately UNC-related, and we've seen the likes of Courtney Banghart and Erin Matson follow suit. Sure, coaches are very busy handling business for their respective program, but there's always time that can be allocated to attending other university events, showcasing how the Carolina family is different than the rest.
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Michael Malone gets it, and it's a very positive sign to see him embracing being a Tar Heel before he even coaches a game at the university.
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