By R.L. Bynum
Michael Malone’s first North Carolina staff addition is a familiar one for anyone who has tracked John Calipari’s recruiting machine over the past two decades.
Arkansas assistant Chuck Martin, the Razorbacks’ recruiting coordinator and one of Calipari’s long-trusted assistants, is expected to join Malone in Chapel Hill as UNC’s associate head coach, according to multiple Wednesday reports.
The hire pairs a first-time college head coach with a veteran college basketball coach with experience in recruiting, evaluation, player development and day-to-day program management.
Sean May, Pat Sullivan and Eric Hoots also will be part of Malone’s staff, Tar Heel 247 reported on Thursday.
Malone and Martin worked together at Manhattan College from 1999 to 2000.
Martin arrives from Arkansas after two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under Calipari in Fayetteville, following him from Kentucky, where Martin had the same recruiting duties in 2023–24.
Arkansas credited Martin with helping the Razorbacks reach the Sweet 16 in his first season there, and the program’s bio pointed to recruiting momentum that included luring the nation’s top-rated point guard in the 2024 class (Boogie Fland) and again in the 2025 class (Darius Acuff Jr.)
“My role is to connect people to make sure that I bridge the gap between our players and staff,” Martin said in an interview on “The Hog Pod,” an official Arkansas podcast, last year. “Make sure I bridge the gap between Coach Cal and our staff. There are so many things going on today — NIL, social media, transfer portal — you can get lost. So, I’ve always felt like I want to connect the office. I want to make sure that we’re all on the same page and sharing the information that’s necessary to make the right decisions.”
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— Malone reflects on Davis’ kindness last season, grace in transition
— Five reasons why Michael Malone isn’t ‘Bill Belichick 2.0’
— Six early priorities for Malone at UNC
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His recruiting track record is important as UNC reshapes its roster.
In consecutive cycles, Arkansas’ recruiting has ranked among the national top five by 247Sports’ team metrics. As of Wednesday, 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings listed Arkansas No. 4 in the 2025 class, and its 2026 Composite Team Rankings listed Arkansas No. 5.
Martin has been part of Calipari’s inner circle at multiple stops, beginning with Memphis, where Martin worked from 2006–08 on a staff that went 71–6, reached the 2008 national title game and sent three players, including No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose, into the NBA draft.
After leaving and later returning to Calipari’s staff at Kentucky, Martin ran recruiting operations in 2023–24. Kentucky’s 2024 class finished ranked No. 2 nationally.
A San Juan, Puerto Rico, native raised in The Bronx, Martin has spent more than 25 years in basketball as a college assistant, a college head coach and an NBA scout. His coaching résumé includes early assistant roles at Manhattan (1999–2000), UMass (2000–01), Drexel (2001–04) and St. John’s (2004–06).
Martin said on the podcast that his time in the NBA changed the way he evaluated talent.
“You don’t compare them to a kid at Carolina or Kentucky,” he said. “You got to compare them to Kevin. Can he compete with Kevin Durant? Can he compete with Russell Westbrook? Can he guard [James] Harden? And that gave me a completely different perspective on how to evaluate.”
Martin was 41–118 from 2008 to 2023 as Marist’s head coach before returning to assistant coach roles.
After Marist, Martin spent the 2013–14 season as a scout with the Oklahoma City Thunder, then returned to college as an assistant at Indiana from 2014 to 2017, when the Hoosiers made two NCAA Tournament appearances and won a Big Ten title in 2016.
Chuck Martin
(Information via arkansasrazorbacks.com)
Born — June 28, 1969, in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Hometown — Bronx, N.Y. (St. Raymond’s HS)
Collegiate playing career —Champlain Junior College (1989–91); Monmouth (1991–’93)
Degree —Monmouth ’93 (Communications)
Family — Wife, Lee. Children: Ashley-Monet, Jordan and Justin
Coaching career:
1999–2000 — Manhattan College (assistant coach)
2000–01 — UMass (assistant coach)
2001–04 — Drexel (assistant coach)
2004–06 — St. John’s (assistant coach)
2006–08 — Memphis (assistant coach)
2008–13 — Marist (head coach)
2013–14 — Oklahoma City Thunder (scout)
2014–17 — Indiana (assistant coach)
2017–21 — South Carolina (assistant coach)
2021–22 — South Carolina (associate head coach)
2022–23 — Oregon (assistant coach)
2023–24 — Kentucky (assistant coach)
2024–26 — Arkansas (assistant coach and recruiting coordinator)
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| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Freshman | Maximo Adams | SF | 6–7 | 205 |
| 30 | Freshman | Malloy Smith | CG | 6–5 | 190 |
| 21 | Freshman | Sayon Keita | C | 7–0 | 215 |
| 5 | Freshman | Kevin Thomas | W | 6–7 | 190 |
| 35 | Sophomore | Cade Bennerman — U | C | 7–0 | 205 |
| 17 | Sophomore | Neoklis Avdalas — W | G | 6–9 | 215 |
| 2 | Sophomore | Isaiah Denis | G | 6–4 | 180 |
| 3 | Sophomore | Matt Able — X | G | 6–5 | 196 |
| 22 | Junior | Alexandros Samodurov | C | 6–11 | 212 |
| 1 | Senior | Terrence Brown — Y | G | 6–3 | 174 |
| 4 | Senior | Jaydon Young | G | 6–4 | 200 |
| 15 | Senior | Jarin Stevenson | F | 6–10 | 215 |
| 14 | Graduate | Angelo Brizzi — Z | G | 6–3 | 193 |
| 54 | Graduate | Cameron Fens — V | C | 7–0 | 255 |
| Walk-ons | |||||
| 99 | Junior | John Holbrook — SA | F | 6–8 | 230 |
| 32 | Senior | Evan Smith | G | 6–1 | 195 |
V — South Dakota transfer; U — Northwestern transfer; W — Virginia Tech transfer; X — N.C. State transfer; Y — Utah transfer; Z — Buffalo transfer; SA — Holbrook is a designated student-athlete, so he doesn’t count against UNC’s 15-player limit.
Michael Malone’s coaching staff: Chuck Martin, Bryan Tibaldi, Sean May, Jorge Sanz, and Pat Sullivan; Deon Thompson will be a graduate assistant, and Brandon Robinson will reportedly have a support staff position.
Players who entered transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luka Bogavac | Senior | W | 6–6 | 215 | Oklahoma State |
| James Brown | Senior | C | 6–10 | 240 | Howard |
| Derek Dixon | Sophomore | G | 6–5 | 200 | Arizona |
| Kyan Evans | Senior | G | 6–2 | 175 | Minnesota |
| Zayden High | Junior | C | 6–10 | 230 | South Florida |
| Jonathan Powell | Junior | G | 6–6 | 190 | Pittsburgh |
| Ivan Matlekovic | Junior | C | 7–0 | 255 | Pacific |
Non-conference schedule
| Date | Month/day | Opponent/event (final ranks) |
|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |
| 9 | 7 p.m. Friday | vs. USC in Greensboro |
| 18 | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis |
| 27 | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte |
| November | Regular season | |
| 2 | Monday | vs. Western Carolina |
| 6 | Friday | vs. Wofford |
| 10 | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming |
| 13 | Friday | vs. Georgia |
| 20 | Friday | vs. Marshall |
| 23 | Monday | vs. Monmouth |
| 27 | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte |
| December | ||
| 1 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 13 Arkansas |
| 6 | Sunday | vs. Butler |
| 12 | Saturday | at Georgetown |
| 15 | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro |
| 19 | 2:30 Saturday, CBS | CBS Sports Classic vs. Kentucky in New York |
| 21 | Monday | vs. The Citadel |
| January | ||
| 30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 5 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. |
ACC opponents
Home and away: Duke and Louisville
Home only: California, Georgia Tech, Miami, N.C. State, SMU, Stanford and Virginia
Away only: Boston College, Florida State, Notre Dame, Pitt, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest
Don’t play: Clemson
Photo via arkansasrazorbacks.com
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