UNC men’s basketball coaching staff the only Power 5 program to hold which honor?

In today’s college basketball world , headlined by transfers and coaching changes, it’s rare to see either stay at a program for several years.

Top transfers are choosing NIL money over a guaranteed starting spot, plus struggling Power 5 programs are hiring successful head coaches at lower levels. These both lead many fans to question loyalty in college hoops, with some even saying it’s turning into a professional sport.

The North Carolina Tar Heels , though, are a rare outlier in this instance. Players might transfer out of Chapel Hill, but simply because they want more playing time elsewhere – not primarily for NIL money. Hubert Davis is only UNC’s fifth coach since 1961, when Dean Smith took over the men’s basketball program.

While Hubert’s loyalty is a highlight at North Carolina, his current coaching staff is also quite the loyal bunch, too.

Marcus Paige , Sean May, Jeff Lebo, Brad Frederick and Pat Sullivan join Hubert on the ONLY Power 5 coaching staff with all former players.

Paige, who most recently played with the Tar Heels (2012-2016), was on the ACC All-Freshman Team in 2013 and First-Team All-ACC in 2014. You might best remember his game-tying shot in the 2016 National Championship Game against Villanova, only for that to be undone by Kris Jenkins’ buzzer-beater.

Sean May was one of the most productive big men in 21st century UNC history, averaging a double-double (17.5 points, 10.7 rebounds per game) during the 2005 National Championship-winning season, in which May earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors.

Hubert, who played at North Carolina from 1988-1992, earned Second Team All-ACC Honors in 1992. He averaged a scorching 21.4 points per game during that season, led UNC to the Final Four in 1991, then ended his NBA career second all-time in 3-point percentage (.441).

Lebo played under legendary Tar Heel coach Dean Smith from 1985-1989. Lebo was also teammates with Hubert during the 1988-1989 campaign – years later, they’re coaching together.

Sullivan, now North Carolina’s Director of Recruiting , was part of the 1993 UNC Natty-winning squad. Entering the 2023 season, Sullivan played in and won more NCAA Tournament games than any other Tar Heel.

Frederick, primarily a bench player in Chapel Hill from 1996-1999, played with future NBA stars Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison.

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