The basketball world was left in absolute shock on Monday, April 6, when former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone made a stunning move to the NCAA ranks.
With the University of North Carolina’s coaching vacancy dominating headlines across college basketball and the NBA, many assumed the Tar Heels would turn to a big-name NBA coach like Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. Instead, UNC pulled off a massive surprise by landing Malone — the 2023 NBA champion coach — who verbally agreed to take the job just one year after his abrupt firing in Denver.
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ESPN’s Pete Thamel first broke the news:
“Sources: North Carolina intends to hire longtime NBA coach Michael Malone as the school’s next basketball coach. He’s an NBA Championship coach with the Denver Nuggets from the 2022-23 season and has won 510 games as an NBA head coach.”
The hire sent immediate shockwaves. Malone, who hadn’t coached at the college level since serving as an assistant at Manhattan University in 2001, is stepping back into the NCAA after a long and successful NBA career.
Denver Nuggets Fans React Strongly to Malone’s Move
Nuggets supporters took to Reddit to share their thoughts, with reactions ranging from heartfelt support to genuine surprise at the prestigious landing spot:
- “Good for Moach. Wish him nothing but success,” wrote one fan.
- “Fantastic move for both parties, I’ll be rooting him on!”
- “F*** it I’ll be a UNC fan for Moach.”
- “I think he’s good enough to coach in the NBA but obviously wish him success wherever he goes.”
- “Damn what an epic hire for them.”
- “Good for him, it’s one of the most prestigious jobs in all of basketball. Honestly, his personality seems better suited for college anyway… I hope he finds success there.”
- “I will always root for Malone. He was a great coach and I was disappointed when they let him go.”
- “Malone has always been really good at developing young guys so I think he’ll do well at the college level.”
Many fans expressed lingering disappointment over Malone’s exit from Denver but were quick to celebrate his next chapter at one of college basketball’s blue-blood programs.
Michael Malone’s Coaching Journey
Malone began his coaching career with college assistant stints at Providence, Oakland, and Manhattan before jumping to the NBA in 2001 as an assistant with the New York Knicks. He later worked with the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, and Golden State Warriors.
His first head coaching opportunity came with the Sacramento Kings, where he spent two seasons. In 2015, he joined the Denver Nuggets and built one of the most successful runs in franchise history. Under Malone, the Nuggets reached the NBA Finals and won the 2023 championship with Nikola Jokić leading the way.
Even in the 2024-25 season, Malone had the team at a solid 47-32 record when he was surprisingly let go. After a brief stint as an on-air analyst, he’s now set to return to the sidelines — this time in Chapel Hill for the 2026-27 season and beyond.
The move marks a dramatic shift for both Malone and the Tar Heels program following Hubert Davis’s departure. While many expected an established college coach or a different NBA name, UNC has bet big on Malone’s championship pedigree, player development skills, and fiery leadership to restore the program to elite status.
For Nuggets fans, it’s a bittersweet moment: the end of an era in Denver, but clear well-wishes for a coach who delivered a title and left a lasting impact. Malone’s decision has truly changed the landscape — and the reactions prove just how deeply it’s resonating across the basketball world.