The University of North Carolina has officially hired Michael Malone as its new head men's basketball coach, with a lucrative contract averaging over $8.3 million annually over six years. This salary positions him among the top five highest-paid coaches in college basketball. Malone, who previously coached the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023, will take over a Tar Heels team that has been without a head coach since the firing of Hubert Davis on March 24, 2023. The decision to hire Malone was made by a search committee led by executive associate athletic director Steve Newmark and director of athletics Bubba Cunningham, and it received approval from the university's board of trustees. In his statement, Malone expressed his honor in taking on the role, acknowledging the legacy of Carolina basketball. He aims to continue the program's championship tradition while preparing players for professional careers. Malone has a notable coaching history, having won 510 games in 12 seasons and serving as an analyst for ESPN after his departure from the Nuggets.