Why just UNC football? Basketball coach Hubert Davis wants a general manager, too
Changes are coming for the North Carolina basketball program, Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis says.
Davis, on his weekly radio show Monday, said he wants UNC to add a general manager for the men’s program and increase the support staff. The Heels’ new football coach, Bill Belichick, has hired Michael Lombardi as his GM, and Davis said it’s needed for basketball.
“The old model for Carolina basketball just doesn’t work,” Davis said. “It’s not sustainable. It has to build out because there’s so many things in play with NIL, the transfer portal, agents. You need a bigger staff to be able to maintain things.
“I never would have thought when I took the job that is one hundred percent needed was a general manager. But there’s so much out there. There’s so much on the plate that it takes you away from the most important thing, coaching basketball.”
Spotting Lombardi in the crowd gathered for the radio show in Chapel Hill, Davis quipped, “Want to do basketball, too?”
Davis’ comments came two days after the Tar Heels were beaten 87-70 at Duke, in a rivalry game in which UNC’s biggest rival led by 30 points. It was noted on the ESPN telecast that there was a disparity of talent on the floor – Duke’s Cooper Flagg was the best player on the court – but it goes beyond the rosters and lineups and who suits up on game days.
Duke has had a general manager for the basketball program since the summer of 2022, when Rachel Baker – a former Nike executive – was brought in to serve in that capacity. Boston College and Syracuse in the ACC also have hired people to fill similar roles and deal with roster management and NIL responsibilities.
Eric Hoots serves as UNC’s director of basketball operations and is in his 21st season at UNC. Davis also mentioned he would like to hire a director of marketing and NIL fundraising, in addition to a recruiting coordinator and video coordinator.
“I’m going to increase the staff. It’s needed,” Davis said.
While seeking wholesale changes, Davis made it clear he did not mean changing or altering the “foundation” of the Carolina basketball program.
“That will never change,” he said.
