Michael Malone adds another former Tar Heel to his coaching staff. The latest

Former UNC forward Deon Thompson is returning to Chapel Hill for the next chapter of his basketball career.

Thompson is expected to join North Carolina head coach Michael Malone’s staff as a graduate assistant while taking classes at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, a source confirmed to the N&O.

The former Tar Heel played four seasons in Chapel Hill under coach Roy Williams from 2006 to 2010, appearing in 152 games and starting 113. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 49.4 percent from the field.

He played a key role on UNC’s 2009 national championship team, averaging 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds while starting 37 of 38 games that season. In the Tar Heels’ 89-72 win over Michigan State in the national title game, Thompson scored nine first-half points.

After the departure of all-time college great Tyler Hansbrough, Thompson stepped into a larger role as a senior. In 2009-10, he posted career highs of 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while recording five double-doubles.

Following his UNC career, Thompson spent 15 seasons playing professionally in 13 countries, including Greece, Germany, Israel and Slovenia.

Thompson now returns to Chapel Hill as Malone continues to build a staff with strong UNC ties. Malone has brought in Chuck Martin from Arkansas to be his associate head coach, but also retained Sean May and Pat Sullivan during the coaching transition.

“I’m not a guy that has been here before,” Malone said during his introductory press conference, “but I want to do everything I can to make sure the former players are coming back, because they all said to me, ‘It’s not like it used to be.’”

“One of my goals is not just on the court, wins or losses,” Malone continued, “but how can I strengthen that family atmosphere and get guys to keep coming back and help pay it forward.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 1:45 PM.