The Truth Is Out on Michael Jordan’s Rumored Call With Arizona Coach Tommy Lloyd

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Abdul Bari Khan | Last updated Apr 3, 2026 2:10 PM ET

The cat is finally out of the bag. Tommy Lloyd is staying at Arizona despite strong rumors linking him to UNC. Along with this news, the truth about Lloyd’s rumored phone call with UNC and Michael Jordan has also emerged.

Before Lloyd signed his $7.2 million annual contract, the Arizona coach was widely considered a candidate to replace Hubert Davis in Chapel Hill. Moreover, Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb had claimed that Jordan reached out to Lloyd in an effort to recruit him.

However, following his extension, the 51-year-old cleared the air and confirmed that such a call with the NBA legend never took place. Lloyd also responded by saying, “My Michael Jordan is Steve Kerr,” pointing to the Warriors coach’s college career with the Wildcats.

Tommy Lloyd was complimentary to UNC and said a reported phone call with Michael Jordan never happened. “My Michael Jordan is Steve Kerr,” he said of the former Arizona star. https://t.co/ZZ7ygsfSRb
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 3, 2026

While Jordan may be busy with his NASCAR team, 23XI Racing, his connection to basketball continues to generate speculation. Nonetheless, Lloyd has made his decision crystal clear by committing his loyalty to Arizona. The deal now makes him one of the five highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

There were also concerns about Lloyd’s reported friction with athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois. However, under the new contract, he will no longer report directly to the AD.

With the situation now resolved, Lloyd and Arizona can fully focus on chasing their first national championship since 1997 without distractions. Meanwhile, UNC’s search for its next head coach continues.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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