Hubert Davis fired as North Carolina men's basketball coach - ESPN

North Carolina head men's basketball coach Hubert Davis was fired by the school, bringing a conclusion to a tumultuous week after the Tar Heels' stunning loss to VCU in the first round of the men's NCAA tournament.

The school did not specify the nature of Davis' departure in its statement Tuesday night, simply calling it a change in leadership. But in a post to Instagram, Davis said he was «let go» by the university and that his desire was to continue to coach at Chapel Hill.

«This opportunity has truly been such a blessing,» Davis said in the statement. «I thank Jesus literally every day for giving me the opportunity, relationships and experiences with the kids and my staff. I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish together. My goal is to coach again in the very near future.»

Davis has nearly $5.3 million of guaranteed money left on his deal and the university said in its statement that it would «honor the terms» of his contract.

Davis informed his team of his departure Tuesday night, sources said. His exit looms large over a historic program that has long leaned into alumni and the so-called Carolina Way, and opens up one of the most coveted positions in all of basketball. A national search for his replacement is underway.

Thursday's loss to 11-seed VCU triggered an emotional response from the UNC fan base and donors, as Davis' Tar Heels exited in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. The Tar Heels led the Rams by 19 in the second half but collapsed down the stretch in an 82-78 overtime defeat. It was the largest comeback in the NCAA tournament since 2018.

Davis appeared sour and agitated in a postgame news conference, declining to get into specifics of the collapse and