The North Carolina Tar Heels will introduce Michael Malone as the next head basketball coach on Tuesday evening.
One of the most unconventional moves in recent years puts the former NBA championship-winning head coach in Chapel Hill for the foreseeable future. Malone is scheduled to address fans and the media alongside UNC officials at the Dean E. Smith Center. The event will be at 6 p.m. ET.
Malone won an NBA Championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. He’s part of the league’s 500-win club between two stops as an NBA head coach.
What channel is Michael Malone’s UNC press conference on today?
Michael Malone’s UNC press conference How to Watch
Date: Tuesday, April 7
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Dean E. Smith Center- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
TV: ACC Network, ESPN+
Stream: GoHeels YouTube
Live updates, highlights from Michael Malone Introductory Press Conference
6:17 p.m. ET- There is a ‘DES’ pin on Malone’s suit to honor Dean Smith, the late legendary coach for UNC Basketball.
6:16 p.m. ET- Michael Malone shouts out Bill Belichick, who is on hand for the presser.
6:14 p.m. ET- Michael Malone say UNC officials flew to his house on Easter Sunday to seal the deal.
6:13 p.m. ET- Michael Malone thanks his daughter, Bridget, says he didn’t come to watch her play volleyball.
6:11 p.m. ET- Michael Malone steps up to the podium. Thanks UNC’s staff and Antawn Jamison and Kenny Smith on the search committee. “I’m coming from outside the family to be a part of the family.”
6:06 p.m. ET- UNC AD Bubba Cunningham says the program looked both in the NBA and college for the next head coach.
First images of Michael Malone touching down in Chapel Hill after becoming the Tar Heels next head coach #TarHeels #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/QtG2tFe0BD
— Sammy Profeta (@profeta_sammy) April 7, 2026
The legendary Roy Williams will be there to usher in the Michael Malone era at UNC.
In the front row for tonight’s news conference: The Malone family, Tina Cunningham, as well as Roy and Wanda Williams. pic.twitter.com/95NosLGDyP
— Spencer Haskell (@sdhaskell68) April 7, 2026
An hour out from Michael Malone’s first press conference as @UNC_Basketball‘s head coach 🎙️
Tune in at 6pm ⬇️
📺 @accnetwork
📱 https://t.co/8isVbg9ywz pic.twitter.com/ysnn9zhLfY— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) April 7, 2026
Malone will become the second highest-paid coach in college basketball with a 6-year, $50 million contract, per reports. This puts him right under Kansas’ Bill Self at $8.8 million per year, and likely the highest-paid ACC coach. For UNC to get a coach who was at the NBA’s highest level is a hit.
An extra fact: Bridget Malone, Mike’s daughter, is a freshman outside hitter for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels volleyball team, making this move one with family ties.
Malone will be the 20th head coach for UNC Basketball and the first without ties to the program since Dean Smith was hired in 1961.