Heel Tough Blog: Malone Adds Another National Champion to Complete Coaching Staff

University of North Carolina Athletics

It took some time, but Michael Malone finalized his staff for the 2026-27 season, after hiring former UNC national, Brandon Robinson, to the staff. This week alone, Malone has added Deon Thompson as a grad assistant and Bryan Tibaldi as a player development coach, but the addition of Robinson completes a staff consisting of Chuck Martin and former Tar Heels Sean May and Pat Sullivan. The hire was reported and confirmed by Inside Carolina. 

Robinson played for North Carolina from 2016 to 2020 and was a member of the 2017 national championship team. In his Tar Heel career, Robinson played in 130 games and averaged 4.1 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and shot 41% from the field and 37% from behind the arc. In his senior season, Robinson started 23 games and averaged 11.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, while shooting 41% from the floor and 37% from deep. He scored a career-high 29 points in a win over Miami as a senior. 

Following his career at Carolina, Robinson got into the coaching profession, starting with the Hornets back in 2022, serving in a video coordinator role. After one season with the Hornets, he left for the same position with the Utah Jazz, where he worked from 2022 to 2026. He finally joined the bench, accepting a role as an assistant with the Jazz’s G-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, where he spent last season. 

There are three assistants and a graduate assistant on Malone’s staff, and they all have one thing in common: they have all won national championships at North Carolina. Pat Sullivan (1993), Sean May (2005), Deon Thompson (2009), and Robinson (2017) all experienced cutting down the nets as Carolina Basketball players, and their presence on Malone’s staff shows his commitment to strengthening the bond with former players and the current program. 

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