Pete Thamel, through his X account, reported UNC’s strong interest in securing the services of the former Nuggets head coach. There, he won an NBA championship in the 2022–23 season.

Throughout his NBA career, Malone has won a total of 510 games. Will he be the next leader of the Tar Heels for the upcoming season?

A bitter end for North Carolina

The North Carolina Tar Heels suffered a stunning and early exit from the 2026 NCAA Tournament, collapsing in a shocking first-round loss to VCU. Despite holding a commanding 19-point lead during the game, the Tar Heels were unable to maintain their momentum, marking one of the most unexpected upsets in recent program history.

More candidates emerge for UNC

While Michael Malone has emerged as the frontrunner, other high-profile candidates previously linked to the vacancy included Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, who recently signed a long-term extension, and Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, whose championship pedigree at Florida made him a primary target.

Other names mentioned during the search were T.J. Otzelberger of Iowa State and former Tar Heel Jerry Stackhouse, as the program specifically sought a leader capable of navigating the modern NIL and transfer portal landscape.

However, with Michigan’s Dusty May also withdrawing from consideration, the university appears to have pivoted decisively toward Malone’s NBA experience to lead the new era in Chapel Hill.

“I am a UConn coach until the end. Maybe, [I leave for the] NBA some day down the line. But no, I’m a UConn coach, man,” Hurley stated during an interview with Jeff Goodman from Field of 68.

As tempting as coaching the Tar Heels may be for any coach in college basketball, Hurley’s commitment to the Huskies is rock solid. Not many—if any—coaches have it better than him at Storrs. Thus, it makes sense why Hurley isn’t paying any attention to the outside noise. As he made it clear, if he is to leave UConn it’ll be to take the next step and coach in the NBA.

Hurley turned down NBA years ago

Coming off back-to-back college basketball national championships with the Huskies in 2023 and 2024, Hurley was handed a very appealing contract offer by the Los Angeles Lakers. According to reports at the time, the 17-time NBA champions offered Hurley a six-year, $70 million deal. Hurley would’ve become one of the highest-paid coaches in the league, but he felt his time with Connecticut was only getting started.

Shortly after, he was inked to an extension in the “Basketball Capital of the World.” Per USA Today, Hurley’s contract in Storrs runs through the 2029–30 NCAA season. When the time comes, who knows where Hurley will head?

National Championship Game

At the moment, though, Hurley only has time to focus on the immediate future. And that deserves his full attention, as the Huskies are set to do battle with the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6 at 8:50 p.m. ET.

Hurley and UConn have a date with history, as well as a not-so-fun meeting with No. 1 Michigan, which looks downright unstoppable, outscoring opponents by a 107-point margin so far in the NCAA Men’s Tournament. As for UConn, its plus/minus is +41.

“I’ve got my full focus on this team. Nothing is distracting me,” Lloyd answered, as reported by @TheFieldOf68 on X. “This team deserves my full attention, so that’s what I’m giving them.”

The Tar Heels parted ways with Hubert Davis after a wobbly season that ended in a first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament at the hands of No. 11 seed VCU. As one of college basketball’s most storied programs, North Carolina’s opening is highly appealing to coaches across the country.

However, Lloyd’s commitment to Arizona isn’t wavering—at least not while the Wildcats remain in the hunt for a national championship. As it stands, Lloyd and Arizona are two wins away from cutting down the nets at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Has Arizona ever won an NCAA Tournament?

The Arizona Wildcats went all the way and were crowned national champions in 1997 under head coach Lute Olson. Now, they are enjoying their greatest success in years under fifth-year coach Tommy Lloyd.

Arizona hadn’t reached the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Tournament since 2001. Moreover, this marks just the fifth time in program history that the Wildcats are among the last four teams standing in March Madness.

Arizona’s record in Final Four all-time

Arizona has made the Final Four on four separate occasions prior to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats have experienced it all, getting a taste of success—as well as heartbreak and defeat. Here’s how Arizona fared each time it reached the Final Four:

• 1988: Eliminated in Final Four
• 1994: Eliminated in Final Four
• 1997: Won National Championship
• 2001: Lost in National Championship
• 2026: TBD

“No, I’m focused on coaching this team and focused on getting Carolina football to the highest level I can,” he said during his introductory press conference. “I focus on what I can do and things that are out of my control I don’t worry about.”

Belichick will face the challenging task of improving on his debut season in Chapel Hill. His team finished with a 4-8 record, going 2-6 in the ACC.

The sting of missing the Hall of Fame

Despite his unmatched resume, Bill Belichick was shockingly not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility this past January. While he was the lone finalist in the coaching category for the Class of 2026, he failed to secure the required 40 out of 50 votes from the selection committee.

Reports suggest that his first-ballot snub was influenced by a mix of factors, including lingering resentment over past scandals like Spygate and a controversial new voting format that grouped coaches with “Senior” players and contributors.

Kickoff in Chapel Hill

As North Carolina kicks off its second spring practice under Bill Belichick, the program is buzzing with the arrival of a revamped quarterback room led by Bobby Petrino’s new offensive system. While the competition for the starting job remains open between veterans like Billy Edwards and talented freshmen, all eyes are on the high-profile transfer of Taron Dickens.

The former Western Carolina star joins the Tar Heels after a historic 2025 season where he threw for 3,508 yards and 38 touchdowns, cementing his status as a record-breaking quarterback by setting the all-time NCAA mark with 46 consecutive pass completions in a single game.

As expected when it comes to making such a pivotal and career-altering decision, Mingo took his sweet time. Moreover, there was a plethora of reasons for him to choose the Tar Heels, which he went into in detail during his public announcement. Surprisingly, the Blue Devils had a say on the matter, as their recent loss in Chapel Hill may have been what tipped the scale for Mingo to join UNC.

“First of all, I chose North Carolina for North Carolina itself,” Mingo admitted in dialogue with ESPN’s “First Take”. “But definitely seeing everything after they won the game had a huge impact just on my decision. It’s so joyful. The players look so joyful. And you know the legacy of North Carolina; that was a dream of mine since I was a kid.”

Close second for Mingo

While North Carolina was always first on his mind, Mingo did contemplate other schools in the NCAA. He named his finalists as UNC, Penn State, Baylor, and Washington, but the former two were always the options generating the most buzz.

“I would say Penn State was second,” Mingo commented. “It was super hard to not play with your brother, to decline that option. I just felt like North Carolina [is] best for me right now.”

While UNC’s rich history in college basketball put it a peck above the rest, the prospect of joining his brother, Kayden, in State College was ever-present. As Mingo admitted, the Nittany Lions were in contention until the very end, but it was the Tar Heels who earned his commitment at the end of the day.

What’s next?

North Carolina has come away with one of the gems of the 2026 recruiting class, cementing its place as a school to watch in the 2026–27 NCAA season. Still, that is a long way off.

As it stands, the focus in Chapel Hill is on finishing the current campaign strong and making a deep run in the ACC and NCAA tournaments. March is around the corner, and that can only mean one thing: madness is in the air in college basketball.

North Carolina has signed Western Carolina transfer quarterback Taron Dickens ahead of the 2026 NCAA campaign, as reported by college football insider Pete Nakos.

Dickens arrives in Chapel Hill fresh off his three-year stay in Cullowhee. The Miami native was a member of the 2023 recruiting class. As he joins Belichick’s program, Dickens—a junior in 2026—will have two years of eligibility remaining in college football.

Dickens’ record and numbers

On October 4th, 2025 , Dickens and the Catamounts took on the Wofford Terriers. Western Carolina would go on to win by a score of 23-21, but Dickens stole the spotlight as he finished the game 53/56 for 378 passing yards and 3 touchdowns, while rushing for an extra 44 yards.

During that statement victory, Dickens made NCAA history. The sophomore quarterback completed 46 straight passes, shattering the record for most consecutive completions in a college football game.

Moreover, Dickens also set the record for most consecutive completions in a season, as he had finished the previous game with four completions. Thus, the top two records for completions in a row belong to Dickens, with 50 and 46. Dickens threw for 3,508 yards, 38 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the FCS during the 2025 season.

Fresh start for Belichick and UNC

For an offense that’s struggled as North Carolina’s has, Dickens’ signing can be huge. Belichick and the Tar Heels are already welcoming new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to Chapel Hill. Now, Petrino will get to work with a record-breaking signal-caller in 2026.

Belichick may be an inspiration to Kiffin and every head coach in the nation. However, when it comes to college football, the latter has been around the business for much longer than the former. On that note, LSU’s 34th head coach in program history might be on track to teach the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach a lesson.

North Carolina earned a commitment from Baylor transfer Sean Thompkins and may have called it a day, going away to rest on its laurels. However, in today’s NCAA that is a huge mistake. Now, reports indicate Kiffin and LSU have swooped in, and all signs indicate Thompkins could be flipping his commitment real soon.

“LSU is hosting Baylor transfer offensive lineman Sean Thompkins,” as reported by On3’s The Bengal Tiger. “Thompkins is set to be on campus Thursday and Friday.” Spending two days in Baton Rouge may be all she wrote for Belichick and UNC’s hope to land the redshirt junior in Chapel Hill for the 2026 NCAA season.

About Thompkins

Thompkins was a three-star recruit coming out of Newton High School in Covington, Georgia. As he makes up his mind in his next destination in college football, the 6’5” who can play at both guard and tackle has two years of eligibility remaining.

Thompkins redshirted his freshman year and has appeared in 12 games for the Baylor Bears (1 in 2024 and 11 in 2025). Thompkins committed to North Carolina on early January, but that decision is now being revisited as Kiffin and LSU came knocking.

Keeping Leavitt away from danger

Signing Leavitt was a major victory for Kiffin and LSU this offseason, but it represents only the first step in their plan. If the Tigers are serious about competing for a national title in the 2026 college football season, they must surround the Arizona State transfer with key weapons and strong protection. That is now the primary focus in Baton Rouge.

So far, Kiffin has landed top transfers from across the country, with several coming directly from Oxford, Mississippi. However, the work is far from finished. While the transfer portal window closes on January 16 for most programs, teams that reached the College Football Playoff receive an additional five-day window. As a result, Kiffin and the Tigers will be closely monitoring players from top programs who enter the portal.

In recent days, as the 2025 NFL regular season came to an end, rumors have surfaced about multiple teams inquiring about Bill Belichick’s availability. Reports suggest the Giants have made a final decision regarding their interest in Belichick, and the UNC Tar Heels have responded with a bold move to strengthen their case for keeping him.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, former Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has committed to UNC. The move represents a major boost for a Tar Heels offense that struggled throughout the past season and appears to be a direct effort to convince Belichick to remain as head coach.

Bill Belichick secures a seasoned, yet unstable, quarterback

The addition of Billy Edwards Jr. gives Bill Belichick a more experienced quarterback to work with, although experience does not necessarily guarantee consistency or stability.

Edwards Jr. will enter his fifth season in college football. His most productive year came in 2024, when he appeared in 11 games, completing 273 of 420 passes for 2,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while playing for Maryland.

He transferred to Wisconsin last season but saw action in only two games. While his overall numbers have not been eye-catching, a fresh start with the Tar Heels—who are in need of a reliable quarterback—could provide the stability he has been searching for in his career.

According to reports, Edwards Jr. is expected to compete for the starting role at UNC next season. He will battle Gio Lopez, who started 11 games in 2025 but was unable to generate consistent success for Belichick’s team.

Is Bill Belichick returning to the NFL?

Following a disappointing debut season with the UNC Tar Heels, which ended with a 4-8 record, speculation emerged about Bill Belichick potentially returning to the NFL in 2026. However, those rumors may be premature.

Several NFL franchises are expected to be in the market for a new head coach, and many believe Belichick could reunite with Tom Brady with the Las Vegas Raiders. Still, the upcoming offseason will ultimately determine whether the six-time Super Bowl champion returns to the NFL or decides to remain in college football for at least one more season.

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN.com, Belichick decided to part ways with offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer. Now, Belichick has two new coordinators to hire.

Kitchens was the Browns head coach back in 2019 and things didn’t go well. He was also the interim Tar Heels head coach in 2024. After Belichick was hired, he stayed. Priefer was brought by Belichick but Priefer was a member of the Freddie Kitchens Browns‘ staff too.

Belichick might unexpectedly be in the hot seat

No one will ever debate the greatness of Belichick as a head coach. But, in College Football, talent matters more than coaching. If Belichick isn’t able to recruit properly, no matter how good the coach is or the coordinators are, the team won’t get results.

The fact that Belichick is a very expensive coach means that he is expected to deliver results, and recruiting is part of his job. If he can’t recruit properly or even coach the team into playoff contention, the lack of results could put his job in jeopardy.

Improvements are expected in Belichick’s second season

Belichick is too expensive to be stuck in the limbo. Not only that, he comes with a certain degree of drama. He is too big of a name so if it goes bad, all the spotlights are on North Carolina and not in the good way.

Also, Belichick’s personal life is very public and very scrutinized. That’s been a part of all the drama involving his stay at Chapel Hill. The only way to silence all the critics is improving drastically.

Wilson Alexander fof NOLA.com reported that Lane Kiffin will earn $13 million per year at LSU. As for Belichick, CBS News reported he earns $10 million per season in a five-year contract with the first three years being fully guaranteed.

It’s stated that Kiffin signed a seven-year deal, making it a far more lucrative deal than what Belichick has. Also, the size of the programs are very different, but so are the expectations.

LSU will hope Kiffin’s start to his era is better than Belichick’s at UNC

Belichick’s first year at Chapel Hill ended with a 4-8 record and an ACC record of 2-6. The team ended with a three-game losing streak, two of them being by more than two possessions.

Ole Miss, during Lane Kiffin’s last year, ended 11-1 and ended the season with a five-game winning streak. Hence, LSU is hoping that’s the coach the Tigers have, not one than has a losing record.

Lane Kiffin has a very different coaching profile than Belichick

The fact of the matter is that Kiffin and Belichick couldn’t have more different coaching styles. While Belichick is regarded as the best NFL coach of all time, he went on a hiatus to then be appointed as head coach for the Tar Heels.

As for Kiffin, he does have NFL experience as he was a head coach for the Oakland Raiders for two years, but he has plenty of college experience and he is an offensive-minded coach, as opposed to Belichick’s defensive approach.

It took longer than expected, but the North Carolina Tar Heels finally got their first conference win with Bill Belichick as their head coach. The team soundly defeated Syracuse and after the game, the UNC coach sent a message about how having an ACC win feels.

In the most Belichick way possible, he said, “Feels great. We had a couple of opportunities the last couple of weeks that we couldn’t capitalize on. It was good to get this one. So we look forward to all the rest of the games in the ACC.” There are four ACC games remaining in North Carolina’s schedule. If it wins three, the program becomes bowl eligible.

The Tar Heels dominated easily and were able to establish good, proper, disciplined football. Just how Belichick likes. Also, they are starting to rely more and more on their talents, especially on the run game.

North Carolina is literally on Demon time…

Belichick loves a good running back and he has one in Demon June. Against Syracuse, he was borderline unstoppable. June had 182 scrimmage yards on 15 touches with two touchdowns.

June averaged 7.8 yards per carry against Syracuse and was the driving factor behind the win. Also, quarterback Gio Lopez went 15/19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

The defense was also great

Not only did UNC limit Syracuse to 10 points but the whole performance was just great. Syracuse only managed to get 147 total yards, 39 passing yards, and 2.9 yards per play. North Carolina put on a defensive clinic.

During the last couple of weeks, North Carolina has been a more disciplined, well-coached team. Now, it seems like the team is really buying into Bellichick’s idea and is a good thing to see after a difficult start.