Malone sees chance to be 'part of something special' at UNC - ESPN

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Six months ago, Michael Malone attended North Carolina basketball practices at the Dean Smith Center as a self-proclaimed outsider. On Tuesday, though, the former longtime NBA coach stood behind a lectern on that same hardwood and was embraced as a member of the Carolina family.

«Really thankful for this opportunity,» Malone said at the news conference introducing him as UNC's next head men's basketball coach. «I do not take it lightly. And people keep asking me, 'Coach, why would you leave a chance of coaching in the NBA? You're an NBA coach.' We won a championship in Denver in 2023.

»It wasn't an easy decision, but what I kept thinking about was, I had a chance to be a part of something special, the history and tradition. Be a part of something much bigger than myself. This was the only college job I ever considered. Any other job, I wouldn't even answer the phone."

Malone didn't just answer the phone, he also hosted UNC brass for a five-hour marathon meeting at his home on Sunday evening that ultimately ended the Tar Heels' persistent courtship with a six-year, $50 million contract to make him among the highest-paid coaches in the sport.

Though Malone has never been a college basketball head coach and was last in the ranks as an assistant with Manhattan in 2001, the 20-year NBA veteran has six NBA playoff appearances and 510 career NBA wins in addition to the 2023 title.

«I think his track record, he warrants that type of compensation,» said executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark. «And we also believe this institution and where it sits in the basketball hierarchy should be paying for what we believe is elite.»

Malone enters the job with sky-high expectations. Outgoing athletic director