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North Carolina will be promoting longtime assistant coach Hubert Davis to replace Roy Williams as the Tar Heels’ new head basketball coach, according to multiple sources.
Williams, a Hall of Famer who won three national championships at UNC, retired last week after 33 seasons at both North Carolina and Kansas. He is the only coach in NCAA history to post 400 wins at two different schools.
According to ESPN, UNC’s board of trustees met on Monday to approve Davis’ contract.
Davis brings a wealth of experience toward the game of basketball. He’s one of the rare players to suit up for Dean Smith at North Carolina, have over a decade in the NBA, become an analyst for a major network, and spend the past nine years under one of the most legendary figures in UNC history.
Davis was immediately considered a front runner for the position when Williams announced he was stepping away on April 1.
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said he wanted Williams’ replacement to be within the Tar Heel family. And he didn’t have to go far to get “his guy.” UNC keeps the tradition alive of having a North Carolina alum on the bench.
Many believed UNC Greensboro coach Wes Miller would be tapped as the next coach. But Davis had the backing of Williams and many former players, according to the Raleigh News and Observer. He is the sixth coach to take over in Chapel Hill over the past 70 years.
Davis is a proven leader and a “player’s coach” when it comes to being an ambassador for the sport. Also, he checks multiple boxes as UNC’s next coach.
Not only will Davis bring the experience needed to keep North Carolina competitive in the ACC, but he’ll lean on his connections within the NBA to serve as an advocate for his players who decide to take their game to the next level. He was one of the only candidates that could’ve connected UNC’s storied past to the evolving future.
Davis has a passion for putting student-athletes first and in the best position to thrive on and off the court. Tar Heel fans should be excited about the hire and see this as a chance to have a renewed sense of enthusiasm for the program.
What Hubert Davis brings as North Carolina’s next head basketball coach was originally published on wbt.com
