UNC Hiring Michael Malone as HC Leaves Fans Stunned, Brings Bill Belichick Comparisons

Michael Malone has been without a job since being let go by the Denver Nuggets amidst rumors of infighting with the front office.

UNC Hiring Michael Malone as HC Leaves Fans Stunned, Brings Bill Belichick Comparisons

Bill Belichick and Michael Malone (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Michael Malone is set to be hired as the head coach for the University of North Carolina after a successful tenure with the Denver Nuggets.
  • Fans are comparing this hiring to the controversial decision to bring in Bill Belichick for the football program, expressing skepticism about its potential success.
  • Critics argue that transitioning from the NBA to college basketball presents unique challenges that Malone may struggle to navigate effectively.

In his previous job as the head coach of the Denver Nuggets, Michael Malone helped establish the franchise as a perennial playoff powerhouse, which eventually won its first-ever NBA championship.

He established a team-first mentality where he would make the most out of role players who would complement the star athletes, and that made them surefire championship contenders nearly every season.

However, in his last season with the team, his methods went slightly wayward. The organization felt that in allotting preferential treatment to free agent signing Russell Westbrook, Malone had signed his death knell.

That, along with his questionable relationship with the front office and the way he handled the team, eventually led the owners to dismiss him a few games before the start of the playoffs.

Soon after, he joined ESPN to become an analyst. Many felt the 54-year-old would be one of the top candidates for a lucrative NBA head coaching job when it appeared.

Nearly a season later, that has not materialized. Instead, as per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the University of North Carolina, the university where the great Michael Jordan honed his skills, is intending to hire the other Michael as their next head coach.

UNC fired Hubert Davis after a disappointing run, despite having a good roster at his disposal. The idea is that Michael Malone will bring his team-building skills to bring out the best in them.

Fans believe UNC is following Bill Belichick’s path with Michael Malone

As soon as this news came out, sports fans instantly linked this entire situation to when UNC hired Bill Belichick. The university gave him the reins to their football program primarily based on his resume of turning the New England Patriots into the winningest team in the NFL.

Fans feel that the Tar Heels are hoping Michael Malone would do the same. However, many of them believe that he will struggle the same way the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach has.

Then there were others who felt that Malone is the beneficiary of Nikola Jokic‘s dominance, much like how Belichick won with Tom Brady leading them. Check out examples of those reactions below:

College basketball and the NBA are vastly different situations. NIL and the transfer portal have made it complicated. Along with most players hoping to play just one season and move to the pros, Michael Malone will have a harder job than Bill Belichick has in the football program.

Mike Krzyzewski pokes fun at UNC for hiring Michael Malone with Duke football-Bill Belichick analogy

When news of this broke, a certain Mike Krzyzewski was speaking with Pat McAfee and the cast of his show. When they asked him for a reaction to UNC hiring Michael Malone, the legendary coach replied:

Nikola Jokic and Michael Malone
Nikola Jokic and Michael Malone (Image via Barstool Sports/X)

They had an NFL champion hired as the coach, and Duke beat Carolina in football this year.

Mike Krzyzewski said

Naturally, this response was filled with sarcasm. Coach K could not stop himself from taking shots at UNC after they could not win against Duke’s football team despite having a professional coach leading them.

The rivalry between the two North Carolina-based programs aside, the Hall of Famer understands why UNC hired another professional coach. He also pointed out that if this helps college teams implement pro-style programs, then it is good for the game.

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