The end of Hubert Davis’ time at the North Carolina Tar Heels marks a big change for one of college basketball’s most famous programs. After five seasons, both sides have decided to move on. This opens up one of the biggest coaching jobs in the sport. Now, UNC faces an important moment, because the next hire will shape the team’s future.

North Carolina is not just any job. It comes with history, pressure, and huge expectations. Winning is a must in Chapel Hill. Competing for national titles is the standard. Because of that, the school will look for a coach who knows how to win in the March Madness and build a strong program.

Several names are already being discussed. Some are rising college coaches, while others come from the NBA. Each one brings a different style and approach. Some hires would be bold, while others would feel safer.

Here’s a clear look at the top candidates to replace Davis:

4. Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)

Billy Donovan has a strong track record. He proved himself in college with Florida, where he won national titles and built a powerhouse team.

Right now, he is coaching the Chicago Bulls, but there are rumors that his time there could end soon. That could open the door for a return to college basketball.

Even though he has been in the NBA for years, his experience still matters. He knows how to recruit and handle pressure. UNC would not be too big for him.

The big question is timing. Would he leave the NBA right now? That is still unclear.

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3. Brad Stevens (Boston Celtics)

Brad Stevens is a name that excites fans. He built his reputation in college at Butler, where he led the team to major success.

Now, he works as president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics. He helps build the team and has a stable role.

Coming back to college would be a big decision. Some people think the UNC job would be a step down. Others believe he could miss coaching in college.

He is known for smart strategies and developing players. Still, it would be hard to convince him to leave his current job.

2. Tommy Lloyd (Arizona Wildcats)

Tommy Lloyd has quickly become one of the top college coaches. He has done an excellent job at Arizona, turning them into a consistent winner.

Arizona plays in a tough conference, but Lloyd keeps the team competitive. They continue to fight for championships.

His teams play fast and smart, and players improve under him. That makes him a great fit for UNC. The challenge is that Arizona is already doing very well. It may be hard to pull him away.

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1. Todd Golden (Florida Gators)

Todd Golden is one of the hottest names right now. He is the defending national champion coach, which makes him very attractive for UNC.

He has helped Florida become a top program again, with back-to-back No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Golden has built a modern system, and players respond well to his style. His teams play with discipline and energy.

The big question is whether he would leave Florida. The program is already strong under him. Still, UNC is a bigger opportunity. If the Tar Heels want a young coach with momentum, Golden could be their top choice.

Final thoughts

North Carolina has no shortage of strong options. Each candidate brings something different. Donovan offers experience. Stevens brings a sharp mind. Lloyd provides steady success. Golden adds fresh energy.

The decision will not be easy. The next coach must handle pressure and deliver results. Chapel Hill expects nothing less than excellence.

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Top 5 Hubert Davis replacements as next North Carolina basketball coach appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

On Tuesday evening, North Carolina basketball made the expected decision to fire head coach Hubert Davis. The move came on the heels of a 19-point blown lead against No. 11 seed VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and now the Tar Heels will head into the most talked-about coaching search in the country over the next few weeks.

When Davis made the national title game in his first year as head coach, it looked like he would be in Chapel Hill for a long time. However, two-straight first-round exits have led to his departure.

Now, it sounds as if North Carolina is going after an established coach with a track record of winning to replace Davis and bring the program back to the consistent, elite level that it is used to competing at.

Here are the five best options that North Carolina should be going after now that the Davis fire is official.

Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls HC

Billy Donovan has been an NBA head coach since 2015, but it sounds like he and the Chicago Bulls may be heading for a divorce at the end of the season. While this is a new era of college basketball, Donovan is a proven winner at the college level, winning back-to-back national titles at Florida in 2006 and 2007.

Donovan would likely command a massive amount of money to come back to the college level, but getting one of the best coaches available would be a home run hire for the Tar Heels.

Tommy Lloyd, Arizona HC

Tommy Lloyd has built Arizona into a premier contender in the  Big 12, so it will take a lot to pry him away from Tucson. However, North Carolina would likely be a step up in resources from Arizona and would give Lloyd an easier conference to coach in. The former Gonzaga assistant is a West Coast guy, but maybe the North Carolina gig would be enough to pull him out east.

TJ Otzelberger, Iowa State HC

TJ Otzelberger has emerged as one of the best coaches in the nation, turning Iowa State into a perennial defensive powerhouse during his time there. Otzelberger has built a reputation as one of the best resource management coaches in the country and has an Iowa State program that doesn’t have a whole lot of NIL near the top of a loaded Big 12 each and every year.

Otzelberger is 124-52 in five seasons with the Cyclones, with a Big 12 Tournament title and three trips to the Sweet 16 (and a chance to go even deeper in the NCAA Tournament this year). Imagine what he would do with North Carolina’s vastly deeper roster-building pool.

Dusty May, Michigan HC

Dusty May rose up the college basketball coaching ranks very quickly after taking Florida Atlantic to the Final Four. He has already turned Michigan into a winner in just two seasons, and has the Wolverines as a No. 1 seed with a chance to win a national title this spring.

May has proven he can do everything needed to be an elite college coach: he can develop talent, he can retain key players, he can recruit top talent out of the transfer portal, and he can get a transfer-laden team to gel quickly into an elite group. It will be hard to pry him away from Ann Arbor, but North Carolina has to make him say no.

Josh Schertz, Saint Louis HC

Schertz is not as well-known as the other names on this list, but he has also risen the coaching ranks quickly and could be the next big thing as a big-time college basketball coach. After a long stint at Division II Lincoln Memorial, Schertz turned Indiana State from a bottom-feeder in the Missouri Valley Conference into a 32-win power in just three seasons.

Schertz then left for Saint Louis, and had the Billikens in the second round of the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team in year two. That’s an impressive track record of building winning teams at two programs that don’t have anywhere near the resources North Carolina has. If some of the bigger names turn down the job, Schertz would be a rock-solid hire.

Related: North Carolina rumors: Billy Donovan, TJ Otzelberger named as possible Hubert Davis replacements

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