It makes zero sense. Basically any college coaching job would be a step down for Stevens at this point. He’s the President of Basketball Operations for one of the most recognizable basketball brands in the world, built a championship roster which is still in contention today, and he willingly stepped down from coaching.

Why would he step back into coaching at an unknown program (new to him) when he stepped away from coaching 5 years ago, hasn’t coached college since 2013, and is arguably the hottest GM in the NBA? He left nearly a decade before NIL existed. No way is he going back. He’s a made man.

I don’t know why any current pro coach/gm would want the headache of going down to college (especially non-alum). i’m actually not sure i’ve ever seen a pro coach/exec who isn’t fired decide on their own to go down to college.

If the Celtics ever let him go, I could see another team grabbing him immediately.

He already said no lol

It makes perfect sense to the average UNC fan….

There’s no harm in asking.

You have to ask though. Also if he wants to get back into grassroots coaching there is no better way to do it.

Why would he? UNC has immediate high standards and a short leash if he doesn’t perform. He just signed a multi-year deal with the Bulls before this year after having only 1 winning season in his 6 there. Reinsdorf doesn’t care what he does

He can bring his son to Chapel Hill. There is even a solid precedent with Belichick.

Like everything else with the Bulls, total indifference. It’s fine. He’s a capable coach but has been part of the resistance to blowing this up. We aren’t competing any time soon so let him go do whatever

Very good, we’ve spent 5 years together, no playoff victories, we need to separate.

Billy needs to go. This team has done nothing under him

So excited, Billy can’t leave soon enough. The coach that can only be described as “mediocre at best”. He hasn’t really been a coach for us. More of a babysitter. Will drive him to the North Carolina myself if I could

He’s a mediocre coach but our FO is bad and ownership is worse. Even if he doesn’t leave, eventually he will but our bad FO and worse Ownership will still be around.

Billy was a good coach when the team had talent if way too unwilling to confront the stars for not committing to a unified vision. He’s not great at developing guys and is insisiting that the shot diet of this team be entirely lay ups or threes. To the point he’ll pull guys for shooting mid range shots.

Don’t forget: this is UNC moving on from hiring in the “Carolina Family” for the first time in about 75 years. The role is going to have much greater autonomy than you’d normally get in a Top 5 college job AND they’re going to be seeking the coach’s input on their new arena.

It’s about the best opportunity for a 60 year old coach to have one final legacy building golden era if things go well.

Giddey & Buzelis has both improved dramatically the last two years, and Leonard Miller has really shined since he came here too. Not to say anyone there is a super star, but there is only a handful of true stars anyways & the Bulls will be better with more flexibility

North Carolina is one of a handful of schools that basically recruits itself.

This isn’t some regular college job. There’s a reason UNC has the resources to go after sitting NBA head coaches.

He’s on a two-way contract and could play in games right now if they wanted him to