Did cost play a part in North Carolina hiring former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone to lead its men’s basketball program?
Malone’s hiring came as a shock for those thinking the school might go after a more accomplished college coach. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein shared after news broke of the hire that not having to pay a buyout fee to hire another college coach played a role in Malone’s hiring decision.
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Is this just North Carolina being frugal? It’s hard to say for sure. Buyouts can get to astronomical levels, particularly with some of the best coaches in the sport. However, North Carolina isn’t on the hook for NIL money since those funds come from third-party sources. If the right coach could win you a title, you’d pay the buyout, right?
On the other hand, Malone is a great coach. If he rebuilds North Carolina into a contender and wins a championship like he did in the NBA, the Tar Heels will look like geniuses for hiring a great coach and saving money in the process.
If Malone flames out, then the school might have wanted to fork up the buyout money to get the best candidate it could.
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Buyout money is a lot; we get it. However, North Carolina has such sky-high expectations. Can Malone deliver? It’s a gamble, and it could pay off big time. If it doesn’t, then the school may wish it had paid up for another coach instead.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Did North Carolina hire Michael Malone in part to avoid paying buyout?