All Things 2025-26 College Basketball Coaches Fired/Hired/Retired Thread










Woah, Michael Malone hired by UNC

That feels like a mistake by the Tar Heels if Billy Donovan was truly interested in the position.

As a Timberwolves follower, it's disappointing that the obvious replacement should there be a decision to sack Finch is Off the Board.
 





That feels like a mistake by the Tar Heels if Billy Donovan was truly interested in the position.

As a Timberwolves follower, it's disappointing that the obvious replacement should there be a decision to sack Finch is Off the Board.
Donovan's bosses all just got run.

 




That feels like a mistake by the Tar Heels if Billy Donovan was truly interested in the position.

As a Timberwolves follower, it's disappointing that the obvious replacement should there be a decision to sack Finch is Off the Board.
Rumors are Donavon would take it if they waited, but the AD panicked after Lloyd turned them down.
 

Rumors are Donavon would take it if they waited, but the AD panicked after Lloyd turned them down.
Frickin' UNC. they could afford to wait and get anyone they wanted.
more likely the AD (and fanbase) didn't want to enter portal season without a coach and watch the entire roster exit. Look for a new coach (again) within 2yrs
 


Rumors are Donavon would take it if they waited, but the AD panicked after Lloyd turned them down.

If he really wanted NC, I admire his sticking with the Bulls to the end of the NBA season but that would really be against his self interest with the Portal timeline.

With the way they tore apart his Chicago roster, I do not know why he felt such loyalty unless it was to get some sort of contract buy-out.
 




I don't know much about Malone but I do know he got fired in Denver with a month to go in the season and the team was among the top teams in the standings after winning an NBA title very recently. Yet, nobody seemed upset he was fired.
So, it seems obvious he wasn't getting along with grown men...getting along with college "kids" seems like a tougher task.
He knows little about college basketball...he's gotta hire a staff without connections to college coaches...hire or accept the GM in place. Together they gotta build a roster and figure out how to spend the money to lure recruits. Top college coaches just bring their best people with them...they hit the ground running.
I'd rather hire the next Cignetti, McCollum type ...successful lower college levels...core of guys to bring with him.
 



I don't know much about Malone but I do know he got fired in Denver with a month to go in the season and the team was among the top teams in the standings after winning an NBA title very recently. Yet, nobody seemed upset he was fired.
So, it seems obvious he wasn't getting along with grown men...getting along with college "kids" seems like a tougher task.
He knows little about college basketball...he's gotta hire a staff without connections to college coaches...hire or accept the GM in place. Together they gotta build a roster and figure out how to spend the money to lure recruits. Top college coaches just bring their best people with them...they hit the ground running.
I'd rather hire the next Cignetti, McCollum type ...successful lower college levels...core of guys to bring with him.
Marney Gellner had said on KFAN yesterday what she remembers hearing when he got fired by the Nuggets is that he had "lost the locker room" and his coaching style was harsh and did a lot of yelling. Not sure how well that will translate to college coaching in this day and age .
 

Marney Gellner had said on KFAN yesterday what she remembers hearing when he got fired by the Nuggets is that he had "lost the locker room" and his coaching style was harsh and did a lot of yelling. Not sure how well that will translate to college coaching in this day and age .
I remember similar things too. But what I will say in his defense, is at least in college they play a lot fewer games than the NBA's regular season and playoffs. Maybe his voice will be fresh for the entirety of a college season.

Or maybe UNC will tire of him when they struggle to make the field of 128 in year 1...
 

New coach for the Camels from Buies Creek

 



There is a story in The Athletic talking about the hire of Malone at North Carolina. I'm on record questioning the choice before today. Well, now I'm doubling down. Malone turned them down .... a week or so ago...said he wanted to coach in the NBA. Then Lloyd, May, McCollum and who knows who else turned them down and the hiring group left with none of their first choices told Malone they wanted to come out to his house in Colorado and visit with on Easter Sunday. They offered him 6 years and $50 million dollars and he said yes. There was no buyout with Malone.

Think about PJ and Niko...you don't need to talk either of them into wanting to be the Gopher coach. I cannot imagine a coach being successful coaching for money somewhere he's not all in at. The first NBA coach who is fired he's going to evaluate the opening....is it the right organization for me? He'll send out the smoke signals and see if he can get the job...all the while with one foot hanging out the NC wheel barrow...he ain't all in at North Carolina. His wife liked the idea of the $50 million.

Think rival recruiters aren't saying the same thing to recruits? "He won't be there..."
 

There is a story in The Athletic talking about the hire of Malone at North Carolina. I'm on record questioning the choice before today. Well, now I'm doubling down. Malone turned them down .... a week or so ago...said he wanted to coach in the NBA. Then Lloyd, May, McCollum and who knows who else turned them down and the hiring group left with none of their first choices told Malone they wanted to come out to his house in Colorado and visit with on Easter Sunday. They offered him 6 years and $50 million dollars and he said yes. There was no buyout with Malone.

Think about PJ and Niko...you don't need to talk either of them into wanting to be the Gopher coach. I cannot imagine a coach being successful coaching for money somewhere he's not all in at. The first NBA coach who is fired he's going to evaluate the opening....is it the right organization for me? He'll send out the smoke signals and see if he can get the job...all the while with one foot hanging out the NC wheel barrow...he ain't all in at North Carolina. His wife liked the idea of the $50 million.

Think rival recruiters aren't saying the same thing to recruits? "He won't be there..."
Couldn't happen to a better program.
 




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