What’s Next for Kim English?
The future of former Providence men’s basketball coach Kim English appears to have taken a different turn. According to reports, English has decided not to pursue a position on the new North Carolina staff. He was previously expected to join coach Michael Malone for the 2026-27 season with the Tar Heels. However, no public explanation has been given for this decision.
English had been linked to Chapel Hill, a program known for its storied history and success in college basketball. This move would have marked a significant step forward in his career after being let go by the Friars in March. During his tenure at Providence, he spent three seasons with the team and five as a head coach overall. His record with the Friars and George Mason was 82-81.
Before joining the Friars, English served as an assistant at Tennessee and was hired by the Patriots for the 2021-22 season. It was anticipated that he would bring NBA offensive strategies and strong recruiting connections to North Carolina, building on his success with previous programs. He managed to secure top-100 prospects like Justyn Fernandez, Garwey Dual, Oswin Erhunmwunse, and Jamier Jones, while also leading a top-35 offense nationally last season according to KenPom.com.
Providence’s Decision and Its Impact
Providence made the decision to move on from English following an 85-72 loss to St. John’s in the Big East Tournament. This defeat contributed to a two-season record of 27-38. Despite having four years left on his contract, English couldn’t maintain the support of a fan base that had grown accustomed to reaching the NCAA Tournament. The Friars hired Bryan Hodgson from South Florida in hopes of securing their first trip to March Madness since Ed Cooley’s departure after the 2022-23 campaign.
Michael Malone, who is set to take over at North Carolina, had a history with Providence, serving as an assistant from 1995 to 1998 before moving on to various roles in college and the NBA. His most notable achievement came when he helped the Denver Nuggets win an NBA title in the 2022-23 season. Malone was fired with three games remaining in the 2024-25 season and spent the following year working in media with ESPN.
Malone was seeking to gain college coaching experience after spending most of the past 25 years in professional basketball. He started his career as an assistant at Manhattan before joining the New York Knicks. His first head coaching job was with the Sacramento Kings, followed by a role with the Nuggets prior to the 2015-16 season.
Transfer Portal Challenges
Recent developments in the transfer portal have limited what English could have brought to North Carolina next season. Stefan Vaaks (Illinois) and Jamier Jones (Missouri) have both committed to other power programs, joining Oswin Erhunmwunse (Creighton). Providence likely does not have the caliber of players available in the portal or potential prep recruits who could make a significant impact with the Tar Heels immediately.
North Carolina made the decision to move on from alum Hubert Davis after five seasons. Davis led the team to an overtime loss against Virginia Commonwealth in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tar Heels failed to reach the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years and lost in the first round for the second consecutive time. Davis had reached the national championship game in his 2021-22 debut, finishing as runner-up to Kansas.
