Michael Malone’s old video resurfaces after North Carolina’s stunning coach hire

As Connecticut and Michigan are battling for the national title in the NCAA Tournament, North Carolina grabbed a bit of the spotlight on Monday after announcing the hiring of Michael Malone as its new coach.

It was a surprising move by the Tar Heels since Malone was not on the radar following the firing of Hubert Davis. He has no connection to North Carolina except that her daughter plays volleyball for the school.

North Carolina, however, said it wanted to hire a “superstar” coach, and Malone, who led the Denver Nuggets to the title in 2023, fits that tag.

Amid the development, his interview on “Inside the NBA” in October has resurfaced. Malone was wearing a Tar Heels hoodie. He was asked by North Carolina alumnus Kenny Smith what he misses the most about coaching.

“My daughter asked me that same question. She’s down at Carolina, your old stomping grounds, Kenny. She said, ‘What do you miss about coaching?’ For me, being a competitor, I love building something, preparing, being organized, but the most important thing that I miss is being a part of something much bigger than myself,” answered Malone.

The 54-year-old Malone was serving as an analyst for ESPN before being signed by North Carolina. He has prior experience in college basketball as an assistant coach at Oakland, Providence, and Manhattan before landing in the NBA.

Malone also told Smith that he wanted to be back on the sidelines.

“I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my dogs. But I do miss being a part of that team camaraderie, that locker room atmosphere. I’m looking forward to getting back to that. I’m definitely not done coaching. Coaching is in my blood,” added Malone.

Michael Malone to UNC was always the play.

October of 2025 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/5Fx6JSDKKj

— Kevin Thomas (@KevoPosts) April 6, 2026

This might leave fans speculating that North Carolina was targeting Malone or vice versa as early as October.

Throughout his five-year tenure, Davis received heavy criticism, even inside UNC. The clamor for his firing grew last season after the Tar Heels suffered an early exit in the NCAA Tournament.

Malone tallied a 510-394 record in his time with the Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings.

The post Michael Malone’s old video resurfaces after North Carolina’s stunning coach hire appeared first on ClutchPoints.