Michael Malone to North Carolina: How other former NBA coaches fared in college

Key Points:

• Michael Malone, former NBA head coach who led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship, is set to become the next head men's basketball coach at the University of North Carolina, returning to college coaching after a long NBA career.
• Kevin Young, after years as an NBA assistant and G-League coach, became BYU's head coach in 2024, achieving a 49-22 record in two seasons with two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run.
• Luke Loucks transitioned from NBA assistant roles with the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings to become Florida State's head coach in 2025, posting an 18-15 record in his first season.
• Fred Hoiberg, after coaching in the NBA and at Iowa State, took over Nebraska in 2019; despite early struggles, he led the Cornhuskers to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2026 and earned multiple Coach of the Year honors.
• Larry Brown, a Hall of Famer with extensive coaching success in both college and the NBA, including a 1988 NCAA championship and a 2004 NBA title, ended his college coaching career amid controversy at SMU; Mike Woodson also moved from a lengthy NBA coaching career to lead Indiana University from 2021 to 2025 with moderate success.