North Carolina fired head coach Hubert Davis following the Tar Heels’ first-round NCAA tournament loss to VCU. The school cited a leadership change; Davis later confirmed he was “let go” despite wanting to stay.
Speculation quickly turned to former UNC player and TNT analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith as a potential replacement-prompted in part by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. But Kenny Smith firmly shut down the idea during the NCAA Sweet Sixteen broadcast, calling the rumors “disrespectful.”
He praised Davis’ contributions as both player and coach, stressing that one loss shouldn’t overshadow his impact.
Smith emphasized the importance of maintaining North Carolina’s coaching lineage-citing figures like Brad Frederick, Sean May, and Marcus Paige as part of a unified “Carolina family” that bridges eras of Tar Heel basketball.
He insisted the next coach must be fully committed to Chapel Hill long-term: “Dean Smith retired as a Tar Heel. Roy Williams retired as a Tar Heel. Hubert Davis was going to retire a Tar Heel. Whoever we bring in has to want to retire a Tar Heel.”