Arizona's Tommy Lloyd makes Huge Announcement Of Final Four Game

The Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd announced that he will be staying with the program after a chaotic couple of weeks where rumors swirled that he was in talks to take a head coaching job elsewhere. The new deal locks Lloyd down through the 2030-2031 season.

"I'm happy to announce, I'm staying at Arizona," Lloyd said in the latest Final Four press conference. We've been able to get some things done the past couple days...Arizona basketball, you know what it means to me when I say it's a special place and that always comes from the bottom of my heart.

I didn't want to make this entire Final Four about that, because I'm just a small part of something much bigger. But on that same note, I'd also like to let you know that North Carolina is an amazing place. I mean, it's a one of one and it's an honor to even be considered for that job."

Our coach 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2GkXeioHVe
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) April 3, 2026

Lloyd took the head coaching job at Arizona after a long 22-season stint with Gonzaga under college basketball hall of famer Mark Few. Lloyd found his niche in recruiting there, finding some of the best international players and getting them to commit to the team.

Lloyd's head coaching accolades

Nov 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd addresses the crowd after the Wildcats defeated the Michigan Wolverines 80-62 to win the Roman Main Event Championship game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Lloyd has been successful, to say the least, when he became the head coach of the Wildcats in 2021. His 61 wins in the first two seasons are the most of any coach in NCAA history. His 148 is also the most in NCAA history for a head coach.

Aside from this year, 2022 was probably the best of his career. He won the Coach of the Year award from the Associated Press, the USBWA and the NABC. Lloyd and the Wildcats went 33-4 that season, won both the Pac-12 regular season and tournament trophy and advanced to the Sweet 16.

Weeks Of Rumors, Lloyd Shoots Down UNC Rumors

Tommy Loy — Apr 3, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd directs players during a practice session ahead of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The past couple of weeks, rumors of Lloyd being in talks to take the North Carolina head coaching job swirled around social media and were talked about by college hoops fans everywhere. Whether it was to take more money or it was a falling out with athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois, the word was that 2025-2026 was Lloyd's last time coaching in Tucson.

Despite all the buzz, Lloyd remained adamant that his full attention was turned towards the Wildcats and helping his team win the national title.

"I got my full focus on this team," Lloyd said yesterday. "Nothing is distracting me and that's just how I've decided to approach it. I'm excited. I thought we had a really good practice today. I'm excited to plan for a practice tomorrow. I'm a simple guy.

I'm kind of just one thing at a time. I'm not a multitasker. I'm 100% locked in on Arizona basketball right now. I'm excited to see what this team can do. I I have a I have a real strong belief in this team and and this team deserves my full attention. So that's what I'm giving them."