North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis will not return next season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sources: Hubert Davis will not return as North Carolina’s head coach, per me and @jeffborzello. He’s spent the last five years as the head coach of the Tar Heels, compiling a 125-54 record. UNC reached the national title game in his first year there. pic.twitter.com/3l9clDETg9
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— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 25, 2026
The move comes after the Tar Heels failed to make it past the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Not only did they fail to do so, they were eliminated in humiliating fashion. They blew a 19-point lead to VCU in the first round.
Through five seasons under Davis, the Tar Heels had an overall record of 125-54. He will now be owed nearly $5.3 million as part of his contract.
Thamel also clarified that the move was officially a firing, despite a wide assumptions that Davis would be resigning.
“Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill,” Davis said in a statement. “My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing. I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together. My goal is to coach again in the very near future.”
The Tar Heels will now begin the search for a new head coach, and CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein reports that they will open their search to those outside of the Tar Heels circle.
With a strong incoming class on the way, UNC’s head coaching vacancy may now be the most desirable head coaching job on the market.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
