UNC finally decided to fire head coach Hubert Davis just days after the Tar Heels were upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by VCU. Now, the hunt has begun for that next coach who will bring UNC back to the glory it once had for decades.
As the search has gone on, obvious favorites have popped up, but some have already turned down the rumors. Coaches like Alabama's Nate Oats, Iowa's Ben McCollum, and Iowa State's TJ Otzelberger have already put the rumors to bed that they would be interested in the job.
That doesn't leave a ton of names on the board for UNC as of right now, but the college ranks may not be the only place to look for a head coach. The Tar Heels still have names on the board, and here are the updated rankings of who is left as the coaching search continues.
3. Dusty May
Dusty May has not been very forthcoming about his future and whether or not he plans to field any job offers. The Michigan head coach is still focused on the NCAA Tournament as the Wolverines just punched their ticket to the Elite Eight with a win over Alabama.
May's ability to build in the transfer portal is something UNC desperately needs. That doesn't mean he can't also recruit out of high school because he definitely can't find gems. May has shown he can take over a big program and find success immediately, just like he has with Michigan, and he would have even more to work with in Chapel Hill.
2. Tommy Lloyd
Tommy Lloyd has done really well at Arizona, adn found success in one of the toughest basketball conferences in the country with the Big 12. Lloyd didn't balk at the competition in the Big 12 and even ended up winning both the regular Big 12 title and the Big 12 Tournament title.
Lloyd is another coach who can recruit well, both out of high school and the transfer portal. At Arizona, Lloyd has also found a way to keep his guys in the building for more than one season, which is something UNC could really use. Retention is what helps build championship teams year in and year out, and the Tar Heels have struggled with that in recent years.
1. Billy Donovan
Billy Donovan could make his grand return to college coaching after spending substantial time in the NBA. Donovan is actually leading the odds to be the next head coach at UNC, but that all depends on whether he feels ready to leave the Chicago Bulls.
At Florida, Donovan found a lot of success, with multiple Final Four appearances and National Championship wins. UNC might need a lot of experience to come to Chapel Hill, and Donovan would bring just that.