UNC Basketball's New Coach Hunt: Top Candidates & Internal Drama

On March 24, North Carolina's men's basketball team is hunting for a new head coach after parting

ways with Heber Davis, marking the first reel, outside search in 65 years.

The Java Chapel Hill is seen as the top gig in college hoops, with deep resources and

instant prestige.

Insiders point to Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan as the prime target.

He won two national titles at Florida and could thrive in today's transfer.

Portal era.

Donovan's NBA team lacks direction, and at age 60 he's not suited for a long rebuild

there.

He once disliked the grind of college recruiting, but now he could hire staff to handle

most roster building while the Carolina name sells itself.

Rivals would dread him returning to college, where he'd instantly be the best ex-NBA

coach around.

Other hot names include Arizona's Tommy Lloyd, a young rising star like a fresher mark

few, an Iowa state's TJ Oltzelberger, whose buyout dropped to, around $4 million.

Coaches like Florida's Todd Golden, or Alabama's Nate Oates, fits stylistically but carry

eight figure buyouts that seem too steep.

The floor might be St. Louis's Josh Schertz, a solid builder who'd excel with Tarheel

support.

Fans and boosters are buzzing with excitement over landing a proven winner, but internal

drama looms large stadium disputes, multiple athletic, directors interviewing, and shifts

in program direction after a football coaching splash.

Recent blue bless searches at places like Kentucky humbled big programs with buyout walls and

timing issues.

Expect this to move fast toward a splashy hire that resets Carolina basketball, calming

tensions, and reloading for another title run.