What’s Next for North Carolina After Tommy Lloyd Agreed to Arizona Contract Extension

The Tar Heels still have two high-profile coaching candidates to consider along with a host of proven winners.

Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd talks during a practice session. | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

One of North Carolina’s top targets for its high-profile head coaching vacancy has removed himself from consideration.

Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, whose nonanswers over the last week had done little to quiet rumors that he was seriously considering the North Carolina vacancy, announced in his Final Four news conference Friday that he will be staying in Tucson. He has agreed to a contract extension with the school that will make him one of the five highest-paid coaches in college basketball, per ESPN. 

The news is a major blow to the Tar Heels’ hopes of attracting one of the best coaches in the sport, though the Heels still have plenty of big fish they’re expected to target in the coming days.

Here’s a look at who may be next on North Carolina’s list:

Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls 

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies. | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Donovan has been speculated about as a candidate plenty in recent days, especially with things in Chicago looking increasingly dysfunctional. If there’s a college job he’d consider, it’s a place like North Carolina with the brand, resources and pedigree to win championships. The timing here is challenging. Leaving Chicago before the NBA regular season ends at the end of next week appears to be a nonstarter, but North Carolina likely can’t afford to wait on having clarity with Donovan with the transfer portal set to open Tuesday. It won’t be surprising to see North Carolina put on the full-court press with Donovan in the coming hours and days.

Dusty May, Michigan 

Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May looks on during a practice session ahead of the Final Four. | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

With Lloyd off the table, you’d think that the Tar Heels administration will be rooting for the Wildcats to end Michigan’s season Saturday night. If that happens, the Heels are expected to at least make a push at flipping May from Ann Arbor, Mich. How likely it is that they actually can pull that off is unknown, and Michigan will almost assuredly make an aggressive offer to keep May similar to the one Arizona made Lloyd.

“Listen man, every AD in America would want to have a coach that other people want,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel told Sports Illustrated last week. “We’ll deal with it, we’ll work through it. I want Dusty to finish his career here at Michigan, and I’ll work to make sure he’s happy and we have what we need, he has what he needs to succeed.” 

The Next Group 

If, as many expect, North Carolina can’t pull Donovan or May, here are some names that could emerge quickly: 

Grant McCasland, Texas Tech 

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Grant McCasland in the first half against the Akron Zips. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

McCasland is a gifted roster-builder who has done great work at Texas Tech, a very well-resourced job in the current NIL climate. This would give the Heels a proven high-major name with experience advancing deep in the NCAA tournament. If North Carolina can’t land its highest-tier names, he’s one to potentially watch. 

T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State 

Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger speaks with the referee during the first half against Tennessee. | David Banks-Imagn Images

Otzelberger has in no uncertain terms pushed back on any interest in other jobs in recent days and weeks, including saying, “We’re Cyclones for the long haul,” when asked about North Carolina last week. But he remains an intriguing option given his low buyout compared to other big names on the board, making it more feasible for North Carolina to make the type of Godfather offer he’d have to at least strongly consider. 

Mark Byington, Vanderbilt 

Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Mark Byington yells instructions to his team against the Arkansas Razorbacks. | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Byington agreed to an extension at Vanderbilt, but reports are that the buyout in his contract hasn’t moved much. It wouldn’t be cheap to move him out of Nashville, but the number might not be prohibitive. He’s clearly a rising star in coaching, cementing that with two strong seasons to start his tenure in Nashville.

Ben McCollum, Iowa 

Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Ben McCollum talks with forward Cam Manyawu. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

McCollum’s name is starting to get more attention after his miracle run to the Elite Eight at Iowa. It’d be a huge jump from a recruiting standpoint given his lack of experience at the highest levels of the sport, but all McCollum does is win, dating back to his time dominating at Division II Northwest Missouri State. 

A Mystery Candidate? 

North Carolina is as good a job as there is in college basketball, but it’s important to remember that very few of the best jobs in the country have attracted proven elite names in their recent searches. Duke promoted from within with Jon Scheyer, Kentucky hired an alum in Mark Pope after just one year as a high-major coach, Louisville landed Pat Kelsey from the mid-major ranks … and the list goes on. Is the floor here for someone like Saint Louis’s Josh Schertz? And if so, was the juice worth the squeeze on firing Hubert Davis instead of waiting another year and having a better sense of the market? 

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