The North Carolina Tar Heels coaching search for a new leader of the men’s basketball program is going to be very different than the process that resulted in the hiring of Hubert Davis. However, it will also be far more expensive. According to Sherrell McMillan of On3.com’s Inside Carolina, the complete overhaul of North Carolina’s men’s basketball program could cost upwards of $50 million. That starts with buyouts. Firing Davis cost the school $5.3 million, and there will be an additional $5 million to $10 million to pay out on top of that to buy out whichever college coach North Carolina’s athletic department decides to hire.

Additionally, per McMillan, the Tar Heels’ budget for basketball operations is expected to increase significantly next season. Under Davis, the school spent approximately $14 million on the roster, with $16 million dedicated to the entire staff, travel, facilities, and other expenses that come with running a Division I program.

McMillan confirmed that Jim Tanner, the general manager for North Carolina’s basketball team, has pushed for the program to have a $15 million player payroll next season. Assuming a $15 million budget for the men’s basketball team is implemented, higher salaries for the coaching staff figure to push additional costs north of $16 million. Between all of that and the buyouts, North Carolina will be spending $40-plus million on its men’s team next season.

This would all come within two years of the school investing tens of millions of dollars to have Bill Belichick rebuild its football program, a process that produced a four-win season in 2025.