Michael Malone's to-do list with UNC basketball as Tar Heels new coach

Michael Malone will be the next UNC men’s basketball coach, USA TODAY Sports confirmed on Monday, April 6. It’s been 25 years since Malone was an assistant coach at Manhattan. The 54-year-old veteran will be in charge of a college program for the first time in his three-decade career.

A 13-day search that started after the firing of Hubert Davis comes to a close with Malone, who will be UNC’s first hire outside of the Tar Heel “family” since Frank McGuire in 1952. With the transfer portal set to open April 7, Malone won’t have time to settle down and enjoy dinner at Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery in Chapel Hill. GET TO KNOW MALONE: Michael Malone discussed UNC basketball, coaching philosophy on Tar Heels podcast UNC TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER: UNC basketball transfer portal tracker, who's in, who's out on 2026-27 roster Here are four items that need to be on Malone’s to-do list as he prepares for his debut season with the Tar Heels.

Get Henri Veesaar to stay with UNC basketball, wait for NBA Draft Malone’s top priority needs to be finding a way to keep 7-foot center Henri Veesaar on campus for a final season in Chapel Hill. Veesaar, who is projected to be picked toward the end of the first round or early in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, is coming off an impressive debut season with the Tar Heels. After averaging 17 points on 60.

8% shooting, including a 42. 6% clip from 3-point range, Veesaar’s stock might never be higher than it is right now. But he has a chance to be the centerpiece of Malone’s first roster at UNC as a potent inside-out threat.