How finances reportedly played a role in North Carolina hiring Michael Malone

One wouldn't think that the North Carolina Tar Heels would have money concerns when looking for their next head coach. They have one of the biggest brands not just in college sports, but in sports in general. The Tar Heels are known worldwide, and they've got some of the most notable alumni in sports history.  We're talking about Michael Jordan here, folks. Not to mention James Worthy, Vince Carter, Lawrence Taylor and Mia Hamm, among others. The Tar Heels have pull, and they also have deep pockets, but according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the hiring of former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone did have a financial aspect to it. "A major factor in this hire was the fact that North Carolina did not have to pay a buyout to get Michael Malone," Rothstein said on Monday. "A major factor in this hire was the fact that North Carolina did not have to pay a buyout to get Michael Malone."@JonRothstein on UNC hiring Michael Malone as next head coach. pic.twitter.com/8CpoaxrH4y The Nuggets had fired Malone in April of 2025, even though he had led them to a championship win in 2023. He didn't get right back into coaching, as some may have, and instead worked for ESPN and played a role in their NBA coverage. What that meant for North Carolina was that Malone was a cheaper candidate compared to some of the other options. Those options included Mark Byington from Vanderbilt, Grant McCasland from Texas Tech and Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan.  There was also a connection for Malone at UNC, so this made sense for him, too. "Malone also spent a lot of time at North Carolina because his daughter was a volleyball player there, and I was told [he] attended practice last season four or five times. So there's familiarity there with Malone," Rothstein said. Back to the other coaches on the table. Byington had just received a contract extension from Vandy, and his buyout is reportedly $11 million. McCasland's buyout at Texas Tech is reportedly over $10 million, and Donovan's is right in that same range. Donovan also reportedly wanted to stay with the Bulls until the end of the NBA season, which would have meant UNC wouldn't have had a coach at the start of the transfer portal window. Ultimately, the Tar Heels felt Malone was the best move available. The move may have saved them roughly $10 million in the process as well. Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!