North Carolina head coach Michael Malone is continuing to move quickly as he builds out his first coaching staff in Chapel Hill, with former NBA assistant Bryan Tibaldi on campus this week for an interview for a potential assistant coach role, according to Inside Carolina.
Tibaldi brings a background that spans both the NBA and college levels, making him an attractive candidate as Malone looks to assemble a staff that can bridge professional-level strategy with college recruiting and player development. His experience working in NBA systems is particularly relevant given Malone’s own coaching background, which emphasizes structure, defensive accountability, and advanced offensive concepts.
For Malone, the staff-building process is a key early priority. With UNC undergoing significant roster turnover and preparing for a new system, the coaching hires are expected to play a major role in both short-term adjustment and long-term program identity. Bringing in assistants with NBA experience could help ease the transition for players while also modernizing UNC’s approach on both ends of the floor.
Tibaldi’s interview is part of a broader effort by Malone to finalize a balanced staff that includes recruiting specialists, player development coaches, and assistants familiar with high-level college basketball. More moves are expected in the coming weeks as UNC works toward completing its full coaching structure ahead of offseason workouts and summer preparation.
Michael Malone’s efforts to finalize his first staff at North Carolina took an unexpected turn during the hiring process, as what had been a near-complete structure briefly shifted direction.
Malone had been close to securing former Providence head coach Kim English for a key assistant role on his inaugural UNC staff. English’s addition was widely viewed as a significant move, given his head coaching experience and reputation as a strong recruiter and player development coach. However, he ultimately backed out late in the process, leaving the position unresolved just as the staff appeared to be taking shape.
In a notable twist, former NBA assistant Bryan Tibaldi has now emerged as a candidate for the opening. Tibaldi is also connected to English’s coaching tree, having previously served as one of his assistants during their time together at Providence. That shared history adds an interesting layer to the situation, as UNC now considers a coach who was part of the same staff structure as the candidate who initially withdrew.
For Malone, the situation underscores how fluid early staff construction can be, especially in a transition year where timing, availability, and competing opportunities often reshape plans quickly. Despite the setback with English, UNC remains focused on assembling a staff that blends NBA experience, college recruiting ties, and player development expertise as Malone builds his first Tar Heel program.
Bryan Tibaldi, 41, brings a blend of NBA and high-level player development experience that makes him a notable candidate as Michael Malone continues shaping his first coaching staff at North Carolina.
Tibaldi has spent the past six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, steadily climbing the organizational ladder. He was promoted to assistant coach under Kenny Atkinson in September 2024 after previously serving three seasons as a player development coach under J.B. Bickerstaff. Before that, he spent two years with Cleveland’s G League affiliate, then known as the Canton Charge, as an assistant coach, where he focused on development and system implementation.
That background gives Tibaldi a résumé rooted in modern NBA structure—player development, skill work, and system teaching—while also including experience in the college pipeline through his earlier coaching connections. For Malone, who is assembling a staff meant to blend NBA concepts with college recruiting demands, Tibaldi’s profile fits the direction UNC appears to be taking.
As UNC works toward finalizing its staff, Tibaldi’s interview reflects a broader theme of the Malone era: prioritizing coaches who understand both professional-level expectations and the developmental realities of college basketball.
North Carolina head coach Michael Malone is nearing the completion of his first coaching staff in Chapel Hill, and former NBA assistant Bryan Tibaldi is this week interviewing for a potential assistant coach position, according to Inside Carolina.
Malone had previously been close to finalizing his staff with the planned addition of former Providence head coach Kim English. However, English ultimately backed out late in the process, leaving a key opening on the bench. In an interesting turn, Tibaldi—who previously worked under English at Providence—has now emerged as a candidate for the Tar Heels staff.
Tibaldi, 41, brings both NBA and high-major college experience. He spent the past six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he was promoted to assistant coach under Kenny Atkinson in September 2024. Prior to that, he served three years as a player development coach under J.B. Bickerstaff, after two seasons as an assistant with Cleveland’s G League affiliate, then known as the Canton Charge.
A native of Traverse City, Michigan, Tibaldi also has deep college basketball roots. He played two seasons as a walk-on at Michigan State under Tom Izzo from 2005–07 before remaining with the program as a graduate assistant for two additional years. That stint included Michigan State’s run to the 2009 national championship game, where the Spartans fell to North Carolina in Detroit.
North Carolina in Detroit.
Tibaldi began his coaching career with the Chicago Bulls as an assistant video coordinator and basketball operations assistant before moving on to Missouri, where he worked as a video coordinator alongside Kim English. He was later promoted to director of basketball operations in 2013.
From there, Tibaldi continued to build his résumé in the college ranks, taking on the same director of basketball operations role at DePaul from 2015–17 before transitioning back onto the court as an assistant coach at Cleveland State from 2017–19.
