UNC search shifts as Tommy Lloyd remains at Arizona. What's next for Tar Heels?

Shelby Swanson, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Apr 3, 2026

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North Carolina’s search for a men’s basketball coach took a decisive turn Friday when Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd publicly removed himself from consideration, announcing he will remain in Tucson.

“I’m happy to announce I’m staying at Arizona,” Lloyd said at a news conference Friday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium, ahead of Arizona’s Final Four matchup against Michigan on Saturday. “We’ve been able to get some things done the past couple (of) days. Arizona basketball, you guys know what it means to me, and when I say it’s a special place, that always comes from the bottom of my heart.”

Per ESPN, Arizona’s new deal with Lloyd will make him one of the five highest-paid coaches in college basketball. He’ll start in 2026-27 at nearly $7.2 million and will average $7.5 million over the life of the deal, ESPN has reported.

Lloyd, 51, had been publicly noncommittal about the UNC vacancy since he was identified as a top candidate to replace Hubert Davis — who was fired last week after five years at the helm in Chapel Hill. But Lloyd has opted to remain in Arizona, a move that a source told the N&O is not surprising to the North Carolina camp.

“North Carolina is an amazing place. I mean, it’s a one of one,” Lloyd said Friday. “It’s an honor to even be considered for that job. The young kid, for me the college basketball junkie watching those games at home, never would have thought something like that could have happened to somebody like me.”

“North Carolina is a first-class organization,” Lloyd continued, “and I appreciate them for the way they’ve handled this.”

Lloyd directly addresses UNC rumors

Lloyd has guided Arizona to a 148-35 record (.809 winning percentage) in five seasons, including a 36-2 run in the 2025-26 regular season.

Despite repeated questions during Arizona’s NCAA Tournament run about the UNC opening, Lloyd has said he’s kept the focus on his team.

“People are going to speculate all they want,” he said earlier this week. “This team has my full focus. Nothing, nothing — I promise you, nothing — is knocking me off that path.”

Friday, though, Lloyd took a moment to address a rumor that had popped up during the coaching search craze of the past week.

“Michael Jordan, the phone call never did happen,” Lloyd said, “so I’ll put that to rest.”

“But come on, we all idolized MJ... with that being said, though, I made a decision that my Michael Jordan is Steve Kerr,” Lloyd continued, “and I’m proud to be an Arizona Wildcat.”

Raised in Kelso, Washington, Lloyd spent two decades at Gonzaga under Mark Few, where he earned a reputation as a premiere international recruiter and an architect of Gonzaga’s high-efficiency offensive system. He carried that philosophy to Arizona, building a program consistently ranked among the national leaders in assists and scoring.

If not Lloyd, then who?

With Lloyd’s decision to stay in Tucson, UNC’s coaching search will shift to focus on other candidates. Michigan’s Dusty May, who is leading the Wolverines to their first Final Four since 2018, remains a top option, while Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan is also under consideration.

May also addressed the media Friday at the Final Four and was asked about the North Carolina opening.

“After last year. I decided I’ll never respond to any job speculation,” May said. “I had already agreed to terms with Michigan, was 100 percent done, and I made the comment that I was flattered about a certain job opening because of my background, and that was misconstrued, so I just decided I’m never going to comment on any job that I don’t have.”

“I think it’s well documented how happy I am at Michigan,” May continued. “Obviously my private life, my personal life, my family, their happiness is very important. I love it at Michigan, but you’ll never hear me comment on any other job unless Michigan lets me go and then I’ll comment.”

May has not yet made an official announcement of his plans for next year, as Lloyd did Friday.

Hiring May also presents, like many of UNC’s top candidates, some financial and logistical hurdles. May’s buyout is $7 million through April 30, per The Detroit News.

Michigan has remained publicly committed to retaining May after a rapid turnaround that has the Wolverines in the Final Four.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel told The Detroit News on Saturday he hopes “Dusty is our coach for a long time and continues to do the great work he’s doing.”

“I will do everything in my power to support him being in that position,” Manuel continued.

With the Final Four a day away, UNC’s coaching search rages on. Lloyd and Arizona will take on May’s Michigan squad in Saturday’s Final Four in Indianapolis. That game is set to tip off at 8:49 p.m.