Celtics President Brad Stevens Rules Out UNC Job

Brad Stevens has taken himself out of the running for the North Carolina head coaching job, with CBS writer Matt Norlander reporting he "removed his name from consideration." Stevens, long admired for his college and NBA coaching stints and now the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, helped build Boston’s 2024 title team and was the 2024 NBA Executive of the Year. UNC will now pursue other candidates like Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Michigan’s Dusty May, Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger and Chicago’s Billy Donovan. Merlin sees a classic crossroads for a royal program. North Carolina still has the prestige to attract top names, but recent back-to-back early NCAA exits and last week’s blown first-round lead mean they need a steady recruiter who can calm the room. Expect the Tar Heels to favor a proven college coach who can sell elite recruits and restore consistency.