UNC Greats Phil Ford, Mitch Kupchak Ecstatic with Family Hire

Posted Apr 11, 2021
Like Hubert Davis, Phil Ford played basketball under Dean Smith and believes the new hire meets the criteria set forth by the Hall of Fame head coach. "I always wanted it to be a Carolina guy. I'm so happy it is a Carolina guy," Ford said. Mitch Kupchak, ten-time NBA Champion as a player and executive, is also glad Bubba Cunningham looked internally. (Inside Carolina)

Related: Basketball, Tar Heels in the NBA

New Era Underway For UNC Basketball
A new era of Carolina Basketball began Tuesday. The Tar Heels introduced new coach Michael Malone in the Smith Center, welcoming him to the Carolina...
Wed Apr 8, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - It's Official. Michael Malone Named UNC Basketball Coach
UNC has announced Michael Malone as successor to Hubert Davis, the 20th head coach in program history. Carolina held a press conference Tuesday to introduce...
Wed Apr 8, 2026

UNC leaders welcome coach Michael Malone on 'a day that will matter for decades'
As athletic director Bubba Cunningham introduced Michael Malone on Tuesday, he cracked a smile as he said UNC staff is already starting to move its...
Wed Apr 8, 2026

Michael Malone sees chance to be 'part of something special' at UNC
Six months ago, Michael Malone attended Carolina Basketball practices at the Smith Center as a self-proclaimed outsider. On Tuesday, though, the former longtime NBA coach...
Wed Apr 8, 2026