It’s already April, and UNC basketball still hasn’t been able to find itself a new coach after Hubert Davis’ firing. But now it seems that Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd could be the main man to take up the mantle for the Tar Heels. Basketball insider and former UNC stalwart Justin Jackson gave his reaction on the matter as Lloyd prepares for a first Final Four game for the Arizona program after 25 years.

“I haven’t seen him really say no… When I look at this Arizona team, it looks exactly like the North Carolina teams under Roy Williams. That, for me, is what’s so intriguing,” said Jackson, drawing comparisons of Lloyd with his former coach, Williams.

Justin Jackson’s opinion could not be brushed aside as a UNC fanatic’s point of view, but something that makes you silently contemplate. Tommy Lloyd’s Arizona does share striking similarities with Roy Williams’ UNC teams. Both emphasize fast-paced transition offense, deep rotations built on recruiting depth, and a culture-first approach that prioritizes chemistry and cohesion.

Just like Williams, Lloyd has an affinity for nurturing freshmen talent. His team itself has freshmen who are coming out as the protagonists of the show – Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, and Ivan Kharchenkov all have stepped up for the team when he needed them most, much like how Williams used to operate back in his time at Chapel Hill.

Williams had ultimate faith in his freshmen, and players like Marvin Williams, Tyler Hansbrough, and Brandan Wright have all been part of this program. For Williams, it was their talent that mattered; their inexperience on court was not a concern.

Lloyd also made a name for himself as a top recruiter akin to Williams and drew in top talent. He has already roped in five-star recruit Caleb Holt into his scheme of things, but now the question remains if he will stay back at the program he is rebuilding.

Will Lloyd Choose To Stay In Tucson?

Arizona fans don’t think they would be too willing to let the man go after what he did. Tommy Lloyd brought the Arizona Wildcats back to the Final Four for the first time since 2001. The win over Purdue meant Arizona was able to break the Elite 8 curse.

For 25 long years, that was a hurdle the Wildcats couldn’t clear. Not even Lute Olson and Sean Miller managed to do what he did. So the fans and the Wildcats front office might somehow or another find a way to retain him amidst the poaching issue.

As of April 2026, Tommy Lloyd has a contract with Arizona running through the 2029-30 season, having signed a one-year extension in April 2025. Retaining Lloyd will be a significant financial challenge for any suitor, as his current contract with Arizona runs through the 2029-30 season and includes an annual salary escalating to over $5 million, plus a $2 million retention bonus due in 2028.

UNC will somehow have to outdo its bid to get him interested. The closer he gets to the title picture, the higher his stock becomes, and that also has to be taken into account. More so when the Tar Heels already owe Hubert Davis over $5 million at the moment, following his firing after a shock-loss at the hands of the VCU in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.

But the Arizona coach is subtly throwing in double entendres at the moment, which is confusing everyone about what his next move will be.

“That’s what I feel like my number one responsibility is, to fight to protect the program and fight to build it for those who came before me and for those who are going to follow after me, because Arizona is going to have another good coach after me. I promise you. The place is special,” Lloyd stated in a recent interview about his fondness for Arizona and its culture.

With a massive contract in Tucson and the allure of coaching a blue-blood program in Chapel Hill, Lloyd faces a career-defining decision that will reshape the landscape of college basketball.