Hubert Davis out as North Carolina's head coach

Hubert Davis is out as the head basketball coach at North Carolina, the school announced late Tuesday. Davis’ exit ends a five-year run for the former North Carolina shooting guard as the head coach of his alma mater. Davis was a longtime assistant under Roy Williams and took over the program upon the coaching legend’s retirement following the 2021 season.

"We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader – he has helped make special memories we will never forget," UNC AD Bubba Cunningham said. "This was not an easy decision because of Hubert's tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level. " In his first season as head coach, Davis guided the Tar Heels to the 2022 Final Four and two of the most iconic wins in program history.

North Carolina defeated rival Duke in head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. It then beat Duke again in the first-ever meeting between the programs in the Final Four. That run by an 8 seed before a loss to Kansas in the national championship game signaled a promising start for Davis in his first season as a head coach at any program.

But each of North Carolina’s four subsequent seasons have ended in disappointment, most recently with Thursday’s first-round NCAA tournament loss to VCU. UNC has failed to live up to high standards The sixth-seeded Tar Heels held a 19-point second-half lead over No. 11 seed VCU, but faltered down the stretch and ultimately lost in overtime.