
Source: Joe Robbins / Getty
Hubert Davis, the new men’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina, was officially introduced at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that went all the way to the left after he randomly interjected he was “proud” to have a white wife.
Davis, 50, will succeed newly retired head coach Roy Williams and spoke to a pool of reporters on Tuesday.
And all was well…until it wasn’t. Instead of focusing on the fact that Davis made history as the school’s first Black head coach, Davis’ uplifting of his wife overshadowed the moment.
“It is significant…it’s significant that I’m African American and I’m the head coach here. It’s significant,” he said when asked about the historic moment.
But the train started going off the track with his next statement:
“I know that in terms of Division 1 head coaches all around the country, only 26 percent of the head coaches are compromised by minorities, specifically African-Americans. I know that it is significant that I’m fourth African-American head coach in any sport in the history of North Carolina. I’m very proud to be African American. But I’m also very proud that my wife is white, and I’m very proud that my three beautiful, unbelievable kids are a combination of both of us,” Davis said.
Hubert Davis on being the 1st Black Head Coach in UNC History. pic.twitter.com/CKLLSJllAj
— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) April 6, 2021
Social media users quickly gathered Davis together over the strange statement. The Black delegation immediately wanted nothing to do with this part of the narrative. In our best Tyra Banks impression: “We were all rooting for you!”
“I’m proud that my wife is wyt” pic.twitter.com/43hp5g8HDz
— Big Maré (@StayGoldenBliss) April 6, 2021
Davis, a former first-round draft for the Knicks, spent six seasons in the NBA with different teams until he retired in 2004, later went on to be an ESPN analyst. Davis is also a former Tar Heel and played on the men’s team under legendary UNC Coach Dean Smith from 1988-1992. He helped the team win two ACC championships and competed in the 1991 Final Four.
Davis worked as an assistant coach under Williams for nine seasons, ESPN reports, and was picked from a large field of candidates and UNC alumni including UNC assistant coach Steve Robinson, Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse, Wes Miller, head coach at UNC-Greensboro, and King Rice.
“I wanted this job,” Davis said Tuesday. “I’ve always wanted to be a head coach. I just have always wanted to be a head coach — only here.”
Hubert Davis: "I'm 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 of being your new men's basketball coach for the University of North Carolina."#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/Lev1CwyTQD
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) April 5, 2021
“I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead this program,” Davis said after his hiring was announced on Monday. “I would not be here without Coach Dean Smith, Coach Bill Guthridge and Coach Roy Williams; they taught me so much — and I’m eager to walk their path in my shoes and with my personality. I also would not be here without Chancellor [Kevin] Guskiewicz and Bubba Cunningham. I appreciate their faith in me and I look forward to working closely with them.”
Check out some of the most hilarious and thought-provoking takes on Davis proclamation below.
UNC Head Coach Hubert Davis Said He’s ‘Proud’ His Wife Is White And We Are Confusion was originally published on newsone.com
1.
— Kevn Striker (@Mr_BX2BK) April 6, 2021
2.
I want Hubert to win. But this was very weird. Yuck. https://t.co/c5o5dGFX5Z
— Black Big Lebowski (@LaJethroJenkins) April 7, 2021
3.
He couldn’t wait to reassure them that he’s not like those other negros https://t.co/rQ66RVLMSD
— In Ya Damn Panties... (@BiteSize_Bubz) April 7, 2021
4.
I don’t care that his wife is white, but it irks me that some Black men really think having an interracial family and being accepted by whites is the American Dream. Like the goal of the Civil Rights Act was to advance and transcend race WITHOUT Black women. It’s very telling.☕️
— LavishLife243 (@LavishLife243) April 7, 2021
5.
— Black Daria, PhD #BlackLivesMatter (@slysmall) April 7, 2021
6.
Bruh.... pic.twitter.com/hQxRl18oZk
— Drew THEE Voter (@DrewMcCaskill) April 7, 2021
7.
@nocontextdrumar ayoooooo pic.twitter.com/rJ0nzeiJyU
— Friendly angry black guy (@hebron_nsa) April 6, 2021
8.
Now, why did he have to include that unnecessary information in the last 12 seconds? pic.twitter.com/GstQwzZju6
— 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎... (@travisfromthebk) April 7, 2021
9.
I dont even know how you put "White wife" on a resume. Is that a skill employers are looking for?
— Terrance Washington 🇺🇸 (@hahaTerrance) April 7, 2021
10.
He is seeking the approval of White people. The moment was about him being the 1st Black Head Coach at UNC and yet he felt the need to make it about White people to reassure them “it’s okay that I’m Black.” Quite sad.
— Hannah Drake (@HannahDrake628) April 7, 2021
11.
“I’m proud that my wife is qwhite”
— Bevv (@getBiglikeBev) April 7, 2021
Us: pic.twitter.com/KGsFipedxG
12.
“But I’m also very proud my wife is white” pic.twitter.com/tOUx4tsMTI
— An April Apricot Apprenticeship (@_J6lack) April 7, 2021