UNC basketball coach Michael Malone nearing his first staff hire. The latest
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Malone targets Chuck Martin as associate head coach to strengthen recruiting reach
- Martin brings 25+ years in college coaching and a record of top-ranked classes
- Malone plans to blend new hires with retained staff to build his first roster
Arkansas assistant Chuck Martin is expected to join Michael Malone’s North Carolina men’s basketball staff as associate head coach, a source has confirmed to the N&O.
Inside Carolina first reported Monday that Martin had emerged as Malone’s top target, and CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported Wednesday afternoon that a deal was being finalized.
Martin spent the past two seasons at Arkansas under John Calipari, where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He played a key role in assembling back-to-back top-five recruiting classes for the Razorbacks, including landing elite guards — such as Boogie Fland and Darius Acuff Jr. — in consecutive cycles.
Malone emphasized the importance of recruiting reach during his introductory press conference Tuesday evening, noting his desire to build a staff with strong connections nationally and internationally.
“When I coached in college many years ago, this (the transfer portal) wasn’t a thing, so I’m going to surround myself with the best people possible to help me get a better grasp on it so we can attack it,” Malone said Tuesday. “And as I hire my staff, I want to hire guys that have great contacts… so we can continue to bring the best players here and help them develop.”
Martin brings more than 25 years of college coaching experience. His résumé includes stops at St. John’s, Kentucky, Oregon, South Carolina and Indiana, as well as a five-year stint as head coach at Marist from 2008-13.
At Kentucky and Arkansas, Martin oversaw key aspects of recruiting operations, including official visits and overall strategy. His track record of securing top-ranked classes will prove instrumental as Malone builds his first college roster.
Malone and Martin previously worked together as young assistants on Bobby Gonzalez’s staff at Manhattan during the 1999-2000 season — an early professional relationship that is coming full circle.
Malone is also expected to retain members of the previous staff, though those decisions have not been fully finalized.
This story was originally published April 8, 2026 at 6:14 PM.