Despite many calling for the North Carolina Tar Heels to hire a head coach with connections to the program, the administration elected to bring in someone from the outside. That led the Tar Heels to hire longtime NBA head coach Michael Malone , who has hit the ground running in his recruitment process. While it was an excellent hire , Jerry Stackhouse, who played at North Carolina from 1993 to 1995, was disappointed that he was not at least contacted as a potential candidate. Stackhouse Not Surprised That UNC Considered External Options Feb 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Golden State Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images "Yeah, I was, and I wasn't [surprised UNC looked outside the family for the head coaching hire]," Stackhouse said. "I think it's with what was going on there, with Hubert [Davis], I think nobody really liked how that went down for him.…