New North Carolina Coach Michael Malone's Daughter is Tar Heels Volleyball Player

The North Carolina Tar Heels stunned the basketball world on Monday when they hired former NBA head coach Michael Malone to replace the ousted Hubert Davis.

North Carolina made waves just last year when the football team hired longtime NFL head coach Bill Belichick and opted to go back to the well with the decision to hire Malone.

The longtime NBA coach didn't appear to be the school's first choice, but after a handful of names like Michigan's Dusty May, UConn's Dan Hurley and Arizona's Tommy Lloyd turned North Carolina down, the school pivoted to the former NBA champion coach.

Michael Malone's Daughter, Bridget, Plays Volleyball at North Carolina

Getting back into coaching likely isn't the only reason Malone accepted the job.

His daughter, Bridget, is a Tar Heels volleyball player. The former Denver Nuggets coach has been a mainstay at North Carolina games and was on hand when his daughter delivered a career-high 12 kills in a comeback victory against Notre Dame.

She suffered a nosebleed during the fourth set before returning to the game and delivering four kills in the penultimate set.

“That was the most poorly timed nosebleed ever, and it’s also the most my nose has ever bled,” she said.”I thought my nose was running, and I realized it was blood and I was like 'oh… right.'"

Despite Coaching in NBA, Malone's Nerves Reach Fever Pitch While Watching Bridget Play

Despite coach at the highest level of professional basketball, Malone admitted he gets more nervous watching his daughter compete.

"I get more nervous watching her play her games than I did when I was coaching in the NBA,” Malone said. “'Cause that’s my blood, that’s my daughter, I just have so much pride when I’m watching her.”

North Carolina finished Malone's freshman season with an NCAA Tournament appearance, but was booted in the second round in a straight sets loss to Wisconsin, which went on to make the Final Four.

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