Heel Tough Blog: Brad Stevens Removes Name From UNC Coaching Search

Sky Sports

The Carolina Basketball job hasn’t been open for 12 hours, and arguably the biggest name on the wishlist has already removed his name from consideration. Every time a major college basketball job comes available, Brad Stevens, the former Butler coach who led the Bulldogs to title game appearances in 2010 and 2011, always comes up in conversation. Stevens, who left Butler for the Boston Celtics in the mid 2010s, has been away from the NBA sidelines since 2021, when he left for a front office role with the organization. In the last decade or so, he has turned down Indiana three separate times, and according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, he has withdrawn his name from the North Carolina coaching search.

This should not come as a surprise, and the fact that Carolina got their answer on arguably their top target will force UNC to narrow down their search to more realistic candidates. Those names include Iowa State’s TJ Otzelberger and Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, both of whom are preparing for the Sweet 16 later this week. In addition to those two, Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls, and a former two-time national champion with the Florida Gators, is another name to keep an eye on, as Carolina is set to conduct a national coaching search, with the best job in college basketball open for business. 

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