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It’s a new world in college sports, and the North Carolina men’s basketball program plans on adjusting.
Head coach Hubert Davis opened up about increasing the staff size and navigating the current name, image and likeness reality permeating the sport during a Monday conversation on the Carolina Insider podcast.
He also said he plans on hiring a general manager.
“I am going to increase the staff. It’s needed,” Davis said. “I never would’ve thought four years ago when I took the job that 100 percent what is needed is a general manager…There is so much on the plate that will take you away from doing the most important thing: coaching basketball. We’re going to hire a GM.
“We need a director of marketing and fundraising for NIL for program needs, there needs to be a video coordinator with graphics and recruiting coordinator. All those different types of stuff that have to be built out, whether it’s from specific hires or grad students. The old model for Carolina Basketball (in terms of staff size) is not sustainable. It has to build out because there are so many things in play with NIL, agents, international players. You need a bigger staff to maintain things and so I can coach basketball.”
There is something to be said about delegating responsibilities as a head coach to focus on the most important things of coaching games and recruiting, but NIL is a major part of recruiting at this point.
Maximizing the team’s ability to navigate those realities could help the Tar Heels reestablish themselves as one of the sport’s top programs.
The comments come as Davis’ team is heading in the wrong direction.
Saturday’s 87-70 loss to archrival Duke was uglier than the final score indicated, and it also marked four losses in the last five games. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi provided a Bracketology update Monday and had North Carolina outside the field and looking in at No. 71 overall.
Being that close to the 68-team field means Davis and Co. can still play their way into the Big Dance down the stretch, but they will need to be much better than they’ve been of late.
Up next is a home game against Pittsburgh on Saturday.
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