Coaches to leave team after Final Four: UNC job creates March Madness intrigue

The North Carolina basketball job opening is still open heading into the Final Four, and only one Final Four coach is still a potential target.

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, one of the coaches tied most prominently to the job, publicly announced he’s returning to the Wildcats next season after signing a new contract. That leaves Michigan coach Dusty May as a potential option from a high-tier job.

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REQUIRED READING: Tommy Lloyd staying at Arizona, won’t take UNC basketball coach job

Only 11 coaches in college basketball history have left their school for another job the season after reaching the Final Four. Four of those instances were for NBA teams, and two others were for North Carolina, one of the best jobs in college basketball.

It’s also fitting the last coach to fit that mold was Roy Williams, who left Kansas for — you guessed it — North Carolina after the Jayhawks fell to Syracuse in the 2003 national championship game.

Here’s the full list of coaches that have left for another coaching job after taking a school to the Final Four:

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REQUIRED READING: Is UNC basketball’s next coach in Final Four? We haven’t heard a ‘no’ yet

Coaches to leave school for another job after Final Four appearance

Note: John Calipari and UMass’ Final Four appearance in 1996 was vacated by the NCAA

Williams in 2003 is the only coach since 1980 to leave for another college coaching job after taking his previous school to the Final Four. The two most recent coaches, other than Williams, are two more legends: Larry Brown and John Calipari, who left Kansas and UMass for NBA jobs with the San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey Nets, respectively.

There’s no surprise that six of the 11 coaches on the list left for either the NBA or North Carolina. The rest of the list will also likely include names most fans have never heard of and came during a time when college sports weren’t nearly the spectacle it is today.

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Here’s a look at the full list:

1942-43: Elmer Ripley (Georgetown to…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/coaches-leave-team-final-four-100346090.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-04 10:03:00

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