Michael Malone Puts His Stamp on UNC Basketball With New Staff Announcemen Chapel Hill, N.C. — UNC Basketball has a new look on the bench. On Thursday, head coach Michael Malone officially unveiled his full coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, a group designed to honor Carolina tradition while pushing the program forward.
Malone made it clear he wanted to protect what makes North Carolina special. That’s why several familiar faces will remain in Chapel Hill. Sean May, a National Champion in Carolina blue and a steady presence with the players, is staying put. He’s joined by Pat Sullivan and Jim Tanner, two coaches who have spent years grinding on the recruiting trail and developing talent inside the Smith Center. Eric Hoots also returns, bringing the continuity and relationships that keep the day-to-day operations running smoothly. For Malone, keeping that core was about making sure the heart of UNC Basketball didn’t change, even as the leadership did.
But he also knew the Tar Heels needed new energy and new perspectives to compete at the top of the ACC again. So he went out and pulled from some of the best programs in the country. From Arkansas comes Chuck Martin, a veteran coach with head coaching experience and a reputation for tough, disciplined defenses. Bryan Tibaldi arrives from Providence, where he made his name as a relentless recruiter and a developer of guards in the Big East. And from Gonzaga, Malone adds Jorge Sanz, who spent years inside one of college basketball’s most efficient offensive systems and brings a modern, analytics-driven approach to Chapel Hill.
The announcement also delivered something Tar Heel Nation loves to see: Carolina guys coming home. Former players Brandon Robinson and Deon Thompson are rejoining the program in staff roles. Both were key pieces during the Roy Williams era and understand exactly what it takes to win in this jersey. Their return gives this year’s roster direct access to leaders who have lived the standard and won with it.
Speaking after the announcement, Malone said this staff was built with one goal in mind — to win for the players and for the fans. He talked about blending championship experience with a deep love for UNC, and about creating a staff that can recruit, develop, and coach at the highest level.
With practice just around the corner, the message from Chapel Hill is simple. The tradition is still here, but the approach is evolving. And with this mix of Carolina roots and national experience, Michael Malone is hoping he’s put together the group that can take UNC back to ACC titles and deep March runs.
