Gators Coach Golden Emerges as Top UNC Candidate

Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden has emerged as the top candidate to become the next head coach at North Carolina, raising questions about whether the program that won last season's national championship could soon be searching for a replacement.

Golden, 40, guided Florida to the national title a year ago and earned the program a No. 1 seed this season. His up-tempo offensive philosophy is considered an attractive fit for the Tar Heels program following the recent firing of Hubert Davis.

The path to Chapel Hill is not without obstacles. North Carolina has historically filled its coaching vacancy from within its own family — Dean Smith's retirement in 1997 began a succession of coaches with deep program ties, from assistant Bill Guthridge to former players Matt Doherty and Roy Williams to Tar Heel star Hubert Davis. Golden carries none of that lineage.

A $16 million buyout on his current Florida contract adds another complication. While a program of North Carolina's resources could absorb that cost, the figure could tip a close decision toward a less expensive candidate.

If Golden stays in Gainesville — or declines the opportunity — another name with deep Florida roots has surfaced in the search: Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who led the Gators to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan has not coached college basketball since 2015.

When asked about the North Carolina opening Wednesday, Donovan offered a measured response. "My main focus is on these guys and this new team," Donovan said. "I understand that there's stuff out there, and I understand that there is going to be certain speculation. But I have to concentrate on this group, and really, my focus is on what we're doing here in Chicago and having a game tonight and traveling to go and play in a back-to-back."

Chicago is unlikely to make the playoffs this season, a timeline that could make Donovan's availability more feasible this spring.

The ripple effects could extend beyond Florida and North Carolina. Kansas head coach Bill Self, 63, has dismissed retirement rumors but has made no definitive commitment to returning next season, adding further uncertainty to the college basketball coaching landscape.

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