By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina will look for a coach who can continue the legacy of the program while winning more consistently, but will take the time to get the right person.
That was the message from Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham and Executive Associate Athletic Director Steve Newmark on the “Carolina Insider’’ podcast episode recorded late Tuesday night and released Wednesday morning.
Cunningham gave no timetable for hiring a coach.
“We want to get the right person,” Cunningham said. “If it takes a couple of days, great. If it takes a little bit longer than that, then that is what is going to have to take.”
Firing Hubert Davis after five seasons came after a series of discussions that began on Saturday when Cunningham met with Davis. Cunningham and Newmark then met with Chancellor Lee Roberts on Sunday. Cunningham met with Davis again on Monday. Cunningham and Newmark reconvened with Roberts on Tuesday, and later Tuesday informed Davis of the decision.
“It was a very, very difficult decision, but it was one that ultimately I thought had to be made,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham described the gravity of the choice and the respect he holds for Davis.
“[Tuesday] was a really tough day to be the AD of Carolina,” he said. “There is not a person I have ever encountered that knows Hubert Davis that does not just say, ‘What a wonderful human being.’ To have the responsibility to make a decision about the future of the basketball program, you do not take that lightly.”
He added that Davis’ integrity, character and leadership has been inspirational to him and the university community.
Newmark echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the personal weight of the move.
“Anytime you make a decision like this, it is a difficult one, but it is magnified when it is somebody like Hubert Davis who has given his blood, sweat and tears to this university,” he said.
Newmark underscored the expectations that shaped the conclusion.
“We believe we are the most elite program in the country, and our aspirations each year are to compete for wins, championships and ultimately the national championship,” Newmark said. “Bubba and I decided that for us to continue to maintain that status, we needed to look for a different leader.”
Both emphasized that they had worked closely throughout the season as part of the succession plan already in place.
“All throughout the season we were communicating, but ultimately the season ends and now you have to really start being more analytical about what happened, how it happened, why it happened, and what we think we can do going forward to put Carolina in the best position possible,” Cunningham said.
Newmark added that he and Cunningham “were able to bounce things off of each other to make sure that we were not letting emotion get in the way.”
After the Tar Heels’ season ended Thursday in Greenville, S.C., in the first round of the NCAA tournament against VCU, Newmark noted the importance of not overreacting to one loss.
“It was emotional for everyone involved,” Newmark said. “One of the things Bubba and I discussed is, when you are looking to evaluate a season, it is not judged on one game, but you also do not try to make emotional, rash judgments so soon after something that is so raw,” he said, explaining why the discussions didn’t get intensified until Saturday.
Attention now shifts to the search for the next head coach. Cunningham acknowledged the magnitude of the position.
“We know we have the most highly sought‑after job in the country,” Cunningham said. “The history, tradition and success in this program is second to none.”
He said they have contracted with Turnkey ZRG to help manage the volume of interest because “when a job like this comes open, there are so many requests, and you really want to get back to people and have respect for what they are trying to bring to you.”
Newmark said they will consult Carolina basketball’s deep reservoir of institutional knowledge.
“We’re blessed with so many insightful, knowledgeable individuals within the Carolina family, and I think we will lean on them quite a bit as we navigate the next few days,” he said.
Both leaders stressed that candidates must understand the program’s history while being capable of leading it forward.
“We have to make sure we get the best candidate possible, the one who can lead us for years to come and have us competing for national championships on an annual basis,” Newmark said. “We really will try to ensure that whoever sits in this seat embodies all of those characteristics and importantly that they have a respect for tradition.”
He added that the next coach must also navigate the rapidly changing landscape of college athletics.
Newmark said that financial considerations also factor into the search.
“We want to make sure that we have a leader who understands that part of the job is trying to manage the financial component of running a basketball program, and somebody who is able and engaged and energizes our fan base,” he said.
Cunningham and Newmark will lead the search and present their recommendation to the chancellor after gathering input from trusted voices.
“Ultimately, Bubba and I have to make sure we are on the same page, and then we make a recommendation to the chancellor,” Newmark said
Cunningham closed the podcast by acknowledging the toll of the decision on coaches, staff and players.
“It has been a really rough day for them as well, and the transition of a head coach is always challenging,” he said. “I hope that people keep them in their thoughts and prayers as well, because it is a tough time for their families and the players. We want them to have a great experience, and we are going to assure them that we are going to find a great coach who will lead them into the future.”
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