North Carolina part ways with Hubert Davis after NCAA tournament upset
North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis will leave his position following the team’s stunning first-round exit from the NCAA tournament against VCU.
Davis informed his players of his departure on Tuesday night, opening up one of the most prestigious jobs in college basketball.
The 54-year-old’s exit concludes a tumultuous week for the Tar Heels following their dramatic 82-78 overtime defeat by the 11th-seeded Rams.
Historic collapse seals fate
The historic programme faced severe backlash from donors and fans after blowing a 19-point second-half lead on Thursday.
It marked the largest comeback in the NCAA tournament since 2018 and confirmed a second consecutive first-round elimination for the Chapel Hill outfit.
The former NBA shooting guard appeared visibly agitated during his post-match press conference.
When questioned about his in-game rotations, he offered a blunt response.
“Because that was my decision.”
Highs and lows of a Tar Heel legend
The departure ends a deeply personal tenure for the coach, who previously played under legendary mentor Dean Smith before spending nine years as an assistant to Roy Williams.
Promoted to the top job in 2021, his reign delivered wildly fluctuating fortunes despite an impressive overall record of 125 victories and 54 defeats.
His crowning achievement came during his debut season, guiding an eighth-seeded Carolina side to the 2022 national championship game.
That run famously included ending Mike Krzyzewski’s career with a Final Four victory over bitter rivals Duke, though they ultimately surrendered a 15-point halftime advantage to Kansas in the final.
Recent struggles overshadow accolades
Despite earning Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year honours this season after reaching the Sweet 16, consistency remained an issue throughout his tenure.
His second campaign saw the team become the first preseason number one to completely miss out on the NCAA tournament.
This season, injuries to projected top NBA draft pick Caleb Wilson derailed a promising start, with the team winning just five of their final ten matches.
The university must now begin the search for a new leader to restore stability and handle the nearly $5.3m guaranteed money remaining on his contract.