CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? North Carolina fired Hubert Davis on March 24, ending his five-year tenure as head coach only days after the Tar Heels blew a 19-point lead in an NCAA tournament first-round loss to VCU.

In its initial report, ESPN said the school announced a leadership change and later confirmed Davis had been dismissed despite an earlier assumption that he might survive the season.

The next phase of the search began immediately. ESPN's coaching-candidates report said the university was prioritizing roster retention and recruiting stability while considering both Carolina-connected and outside candidates.

The coaching change also affected wider program planning. ESPN later reported that the school paused discussions over whether to renovate the Smith Center or build a new arena until a new coach is in place.

Davis leaves with a national title game appearance from 2022 and an ACC regular-season championship in 2024, but the final decision was shaped by how abruptly this season ended.