Hubert Davis has been hired as the next head basketball coach at the University of North Carolina. Davis is the first Black man to hold this role at the university.
"I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead this program," he said.
"I would not be here without Coach Dean Smith, Coach Bill Guthridge and Coach Roy Williams; they taught me so much -- and I'm eager to walk their path in my shoes and with my personality. I also would not be here without Chancellor [Kevin] Guskiewicz and Bubba Cunningham. I appreciate their faith in me and I look forward to working closely with them."
Prior to being hired as head coach of the university's men's basketball program, Davis played four seasons at the University of North Carolina. While there, he helped lead his team to the 1991 Final Four. After graduating with a degree in criminal justice, he played 14 seasons for the Knicks, Mavericks, Nets, Mavericks, Pistons and Wizards. Davis went on to work at ESPN as a college basketball comentator. In 2012, he returned to the University of North Carolina to work as an assistant coach.
Davis has major shoes to fill in Chapel Hill. He will replace Hall of Fame basketball coach Roy Williams. For more than three decades, Williams worked as a head coach for both the University of Kansas and the University of North Carolina. At Kansas, he won five Big 12 regular-season titles and appeared in four Final Fours. At North Carolina, he won three national titles and appeared in five Final Fours. Williams finished with 903 wins all-time. As Williams walked out of the program, he and UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham offered their support for Davis.
"Hubert Davis is the best leader we can possibly have for our men's basketball program," Cunningham said.
"He teaches student-athletes on and off the court. He inspires his fellow staff members. He is strongly committed to family. He has a tenacious, burning desire to be the best he can possibly be; we witnessed that when he was a player, a broadcaster and an assistant coach -- and I have no doubt he will ensure ... our student-athletes and program will be the best they can be, as well."
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