Antawn Jamison Details Role in UNC Hiring Michael Malone

Once Malone was identified as the top coaching target, the Tar Heels' brass did everything imaginable to convince him that Chapel Hill was the best place to restart his coaching career.

Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It's well documented that the North Carolina Tar Heels went through a thorough process to hire Michael Malone as head coach earlier this offseason.

That being said, there are still details within the cracks that have remained under wraps. This week, former Tar Heel Antawn Jamison sat down for an interview and revealed what his role was in persuading Malone to take the job.

Jamison's Thoughts

Michael Malone, University of North Carolina basketball head coach, sits in the coaches section during the third day of the 2026 Nike EYBL Peach Jam at Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta, S.C., on Thursday, July 16, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

• "UNC put together a panel of guys who went to Carolina. [Athletic Director] Steve [Newmark] reached out to me and said, 'Look, we’re putting this board together, we want to get this coaching search done right. You have had some experience in the [NBA] front office.' Coach [Michael] Malone’s name came up. And I was like, 'Steve, I had the opportunity to be coached under Coach Malone when I was in Cleveland when I got traded from the Wizards.'"

• "I just didn’t know if he would jump into the college ranks. When we reached out to him, I said: 'Coach, it’s just like an NBA franchise now. You have a GM. You have a staff. And the University of North Carolina coaching job is one of the most coveted jobs in all of basketball.' Plus, his daughter went there [Bridget Malone is a volleyball player at UNC]. It just made sense."

Overall Takeaways

Mar 27, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The North Carolina Tar Heels logo on the video board during practice prior to NCAA Tournament at West Regional at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

It's safe to say that once Malone became a legitimate target for North Carolina, the front office and administration were willing to jump through multiple hoops to make it happen. Historically, North Carolina has hired coaches with prior connections to the basketball program. However, that thought process was behind Hubert Davis' hiring, and that led to five years of mediocrity.

The Tar Heels' brass smartly changed their approach, especially since the program has been nowhere near close to its standards in recent memory. When this hire first happened, it was met with a mixed-bag reaction. While some loved that the Tar Heels were taking a risk with a proven NBA head coach, others were worried about how he would transition to college basketball.

However, as Jamison stated during his interview, college sports have adopted the professional landscape, providing coaches with a front office and staff to take some of the pressure off a coach's shoulders. Malone is used to the NBA, but he has proven to be a legitimate and effective recruiter.

North Carolina may have been targeting Dusty May and Tommy Lloyd, but missing out on those two candidates could be a blessing in disguise. The 54-year-old head coach has already passed the first test: recruiting. Now, he needs to mold those players into his system and culture while maximizing their talents.