Former Nuggets head coach is headed to Chapel Hill to take over as tar heels top coach.
Hawkeyes can breath easy that Ben Mc is staying put!
Hawkeyes can breath easy that Ben Mc is staying put!
UNC hires Mike Malone
- Thread starter Palmerhawk
- Start date
I know UNC bball is a job that doesn't come open often and has prestige, but I never really was concerned about Ben leaving... We are his UNC.
Honestly, this is a second-tier hire if not a third. A real fall back. Tar Heel nation cannot be happy. We can savor the deliciousness of their angst.
Ben wasn't going anywhere
That's a tad harsh. He does have a NBA championship. AS a Nuggets fan, I don't think this is a terrible hire. Malone can coach and with the recruits he will get at UNC... I am more surprised to see Malone coming to college. Just seems more like an NBA guy.
Agree. A world title pro coach is a 1st tier hire.
His dad was also a respected pro coach.
UNC landed on their feet here
I suspect that even a hint that unc wanted Ben will be used on the recruiting trail by Ben and staff....hey,our coach is hot stuff!
We've got our guy. Now we can focus on the future without worry.
How many NBA coaches have made a successful move to college coach? Legitimate question…not trying to be snarky.
Was BMC ever considering the UNC job?
If he was, then I would say Iowa fans shouldn’t breathe easy, because he will likely jump to a blue blood in 1-2 years, if that’s indeed his goal. If BMC considers Iowa a long-term possibility, then BG better open up the checkbook and make his buyout practically untouchable.
In basketball, I can’t think of one.
Pete Carroll to USC is all I am coming up with (without Googling), and that’s obviously football.
Yeah, I don’t know. But my memory is crap.
google gemini:
- Larry Brown: Brown is the ultimate nomad of basketball coaching, but his success is undeniable. After coaching the New Jersey Nets, he moved to Kansas, where he won the 1988 NCAA Championship. He later returned to the NBA to win a title with the Detroit Pistons (2004), becoming the only coach to win both. He also had a successful later stint at SMU, leading them to two NCAA tournament appearances.
+1
- Rick Pitino: While his NBA head coaching stints (Knicks, Celtics) are often debated, his ability to return to college and win is historic. After coaching the Knicks, he took over Kentucky and won the 1996 National Championship. Following a stint with the Celtics, he led Louisville to the 2013 National Championship (later vacated) and is currently seeing a resurgence at St. John's, leading them to consecutive Big East titles in 2025 and 2026.
I forgot about Larry Brown.
Since Pitino was at UK before jumping to the Celtics then going back to college, I didn’t consider him.
It’s a different game now. Top college jobs are just like coaching in the Pros. You bring in your free agents, deal with their agents, etc. Malone is a really smart guy and a helluva coach. Calling him a 2nd or 3rd tier get is ridiculous. Hes got an NbA championship for goodness sakes. A bit of a prick, but a really good coach.