UNC Basketball
Complete coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball.
Michael Malone's Father, Brendan Malone, On His Son's Coaching Journey
"
Michael Malone took the (Secret Service) exams and passed. But before this, he’d written letters to a lot of head coaches for jobs, and the first coach who answered was
Dean Smith, who didn’t offer him anything. Well, Michael was two weeks away from going to the barracks when Pete Gillen, coach at Providence College, called." (
Article from 2020) (
NBA.com)
Art’s Angle: Extended Family
Long before his daughter Bridget joined the Tar Heels volleyball team – and was the reason he spent so much time watching her practice the last three months – new UNC Men's Basketball head coach
Michael Malone has another generational connection through his father: the late Brendan Malone. Brendan was a great basketball coach in his own right. (
Chapelboro.com)
Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Jesse Holley On Michael Malone, UNC Basketball Staff Continuity
New UNC basketball coach
Michael Malone intends to keep
Pat Sullivan and Sean May on his staff. Former UNC guard and 2005 National Champion
Jesse Holley weighs in on the Malone hire, his coaching staff choices, and if it will turn out to be the right move for Carolina.
(
View Video)
Fri Apr 10, 2026
What Michael Malone brings to UNC basketball offense, defense with coaching philosophy
Michael Malone said he shared a moment with
Tyler Hansbrough, whose No. 50 jersey is retired and hanging from the Smith Center rafters. Hansbrough grabbed Malone by the arm and said, "I know we’re gonna play hard and we’re gonna be tough." Playing hard and playing with toughness are at the top of Malone’s list of requirements for his Tar Heels. (
MSN.com)
Video: TarHeel247 Podcast - John Henson, Scott Williams on Malone Hire, Transfer Targets, and More
Former UNC forward and NBA Champion Scott Williams joins fellow Tar Heel
John Henson to discuss the hiring of
Michael Malone, insights on Malone’s staff hires, transfer portal targets, and
Michael Jordan's level of involvement with Carolina Basketball.
(
View Video)
Malone doesn’t want to 'Be Like Mike,' preferring 'Michael'
If a UNC Basketball player wanted to "Be Like Mike," Tar Heels coach
Michael Malone would undoubtedly be delighted if they played like
Michael Jordan. Just don’t call him Mike. Malone has made it clear he prefers to be called "Michael." That preference drew national attention during the 2021 NBA playoffs when Malone was coach of the Denver Nuggets. (
Tar Heel Tribune)
How this century's UNC Basketball national championship teams stack up
No. 2. 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels: This team was ruthless. The Tar Heels had five players who averaged double-figures during the 2008-09 season.
Tyler Hansbrough earned his second straight AP All-America first-team selection in 2009.
Ty Lawson was ACC player of the year, and
Wayne Ellington won Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament. (
ESPN)
Michael Malone says UNC will play tough defense, rebound and be unselfish
Michael Malone’s Denver Nuggets were known for torrid defense, and he says that it will be the cornerstone of how UNC will play under his leadership. Malone described himself at his
introductory press conference as "a defensive-minded coach" and framed his approach as philosophical and practical in how it connects one end of the floor to the other. (
Tar Heel Tribune)
Video: IC Podcast - UNC Basketball Family and High Expectations
Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina discuss the Carolina influence in the hiring of
Michael Malone as its new men's basketball coach, the importance of family ties, and understanding the Carolina Basketball tradition. Malone's connections to former players and having a daughter on the volleyball team were crucial.
(
View Video)
Thu Apr 9, 2026
Sean May, Pat Sullivan, Eric Hoots to Remain on UNC Basketball Staff
North Carolina's coaching staff won't undergo a complete overhaul with
Michael Malone as the program's new coach, as he is retaining a few holdovers that have deep-rooted ties to the UNC Basketball family. Sean May,
Pat Sullivan, and Eric Hoots, each of whom was on the staff for all five seasons of the
Hubert Davis regime, are being retained by Malone. (
TarHeel247)