9 North Carolina head coaching options in basketball after Hubert Davis gets fired

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 19: Mark Byington of the Vanderbilt Commodores gestures during the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the McNeese Cowboys held at Paycom Center on March 19, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Shane Bevel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images North Carolina men’s basketball fired Hubert Davis on Tuesday evening, according to multiple reports . The program begins its search for a new head coach after Davis spent five seasons on the job following the legendary Roy Williams.

Davis got North Carolina to the national championship in 2022 in a run that included a Final Four victory over Duke in Mike Krzyzewski’s last game, but the Tar Heels decided to move on after consecutive first-round exits. North Carolina has always been considered one of the premier jobs in college basketball, but the rapidly changing nature of the sport through NIL and the transfer portal has shifted the dynamics of which jobs are truly desirable around the country. Fans will think UNC should be able to handpick whichever coach they want.

Actually getting them to accept the job is another matter. Blueblood jobs don’t open often without a handpicked successor. It feels like there’s no one in line for Davis’ job, and that will make this the most fascinating hire of the offseason.

Here’s nine candidates the Tar Heels should consider. Nate Oats, Alabama What Oats has done with Alabama is absolutely incredible: five trips to the second weekend of March Madness in the last six years, including four straight with another Sweet 16 game coming this week. Before Alabama hired Oats, the program only had two tournament appearances in 13 seasons under Avery Johnson and Anthony Grant.