Hubert Davis is no longer the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team.
But Davis might be the most important person right now in college basketball, as his departure has forced almost every premier program in the country to lock down their head coach instead of side-eyeing Chapel Hill.
First, it was Rick Pitino of St. John’s, who was rumored to be a top candidate for the UNC job if he wanted it. A day after his name started to rise in the odds, the Red Storm extended the legendary head coach.
Next, still coaching in the men’s tournament, there was Arizona Wildcats head man Tommy Lloyd. He skyrocketed as one of the favorites to replace Davis at UNC, and the rumors continued all the way up to the Final Four, where the Wildcats were facing Michigan for a shot at the national title.
Before the semifinal, Arizona gave Lloyd the contract he wanted and kept him in the state rather than sending him east.
And on Sunday, the carousel of elite coaches getting new contracts continued, with Nate Oats making his own decision on his future.
More news: Dusty May Sees New Odds to Replace Hubert Davis at UNC After Arizona Win
More news: New Big Name Emerges in UNC Head Coach Search to Replace Hubert Davis
Oats has turned a football school into a basketball school over the past two years, and he’s built an offensive powerhouse in the south with the Crimson Tide.
After his name was floated over the past few days as a coach who could be the new commander of Chapel Hill, that was all put to rest on Sunday when Oats agreed to a new deal with the Crimson Tide.
Per Barkley Truax of On3, Oats’ new contract will make him one of the five highest-paid head coaches in all of college basketball.
With Oats now off the board, many eyes will be looking towards Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May, who enters Monday as the favorite to win the national title over Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies.
If May wins on Monday, given how things have gone in college basketball, he might fly back to Michigan on his own private jet to keep him in Ann Arbor.
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