UNC hits biggest roadblock in search for next head coach

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein believes North Carolina’s coaching search could be more complicated — and more expensive — than many around Chapel Hill expect. The Tar Heels got their first taste of that on Friday, when Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd turned down a lucrative offer from the blue blood program to remain in Tucson, where the Wildcats met his demands. Now at the top of the list are Michigan’s Dusty May and Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan , but both come with major hurdles.

May, who has led the Wolverines to their first Final Four since 2018, is settled in Ann Arbor and strongly backed by Michigan’s administration. "I have been told that Billy Donovan will not entertain a conversation with UNC until after the Chicago Bulls season is over... I would expect names like Texas Tech's Grant McCasland, Vanderbilt's Mark Byington, and also Iowa's Ben McCollum to be on (UNC's) list.

" -… pic. twitter. com/fYw3aGfrgS — CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 3, 2026 “I have talked to Warde Manuel three times in the last week, Michigan's athletic director,” Rothstein said.

“He has said every single time, ‘We are going to do everything we have to do to retain Dusty May as head coach. ’ And talking to a lot of people close to Dusty May, he’s not really that interested in going to a fishbowl like North Carolina. ” Donovan, meanwhile, has the résumé UNC fans covet — two national titles at Florida and multiple deep NCAA tournament runs — but his NBA situation could slow any college move.