North Carolina Fires Basketball Coach Hubert Davis After Tournament Loss

The University of North Carolina dismissed head basketball coach Hubert Davis following a devastating first-round NCAA Tournament defeat. Davis, who led the Tar Heels to the championship game in his first season, will receive $5.3 million from his remaining contract.

The University of North Carolina terminated head basketball coach Hubert Davis on Tuesday evening following a crushing first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament.

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham released a statement acknowledging Davis’s contributions to the program. “We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader — he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” Cunningham stated. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”

Multiple sources report that Davis will receive $5.3 million from the university as payment for the remainder of his coaching contract. The former Tar Heel player competed for North Carolina from 1988 to 1992 and later worked as an assistant coach from 2012 through 2021.

The dismissal came after North Carolina’s devastating tournament loss last Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina. The eighth-seeded Tar Heels held a commanding 19-point advantage over VCU in the second half before allowing the 11th-seeded Rams to mount a comeback and secure an 82-78 overtime victory.

North Carolina concluded the season with a 24-9 overall record. The team finished tied for fourth in Atlantic Coast Conference regular season play at 12-6, with their most notable achievement being a 71-68 home victory against rival Duke on February 7.

This marked the second consecutive year that the Tar Heels were eliminated in the tournament’s opening round. Last year, North Carolina defeated San Diego State in a First Four matchup before falling to sixth-seeded Ole Miss 71-64 as an 11th seed.

Davis experienced his greatest success during his inaugural season as head coach after assuming leadership of his former school when Roy Williams stepped down. In the 2021-22 campaign, the Tar Heels compiled a 29-10 record and advanced to the NCAA championship game before losing to Kansas.

The program failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament the following season, then made it to the Sweet 16 in 2024.

During his tenure, Davis accumulated a 125-54 overall coaching record, which included a 68-30 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.