After 18 seasons as the head coach for North Carolina men’s basketball, Roy Williams will retire from coaching.
The announcement was made early Thursday morning — with an official release from UNC Basketball.
During his time coaching the Tar Heels, Williams posted a record of 485-163 (.748). He’s the second-winningest coach in program history. Williams led UNC to three NCAA titles: 2005, 2009 and 2017.
After 33 years as a Hall of Fame head coach, our beloved Tar Heel Roy Williams is announcing his retirement.
Thank you for all you have done and meant to everyone who plays and loves our game.
Release 🔗: https://t.co/l6y5tRjB2I pic.twitter.com/FzTUmbx3v1
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) April 1, 2021
Williams was a college basketball coach for 48 seasons, starting with the 1978-79 season as an assistant coach for Dean Smith at UNC.
In 1988, Williams left to become the head coach at Kansas. He coached the Jayhawks until 2003, when he left to return to North Carolina, his alma mater. During his his 15 seasons at Kansas, Williams went 418-101 (.805).
With 33 seasons of head coaching experience under his belt, Williams has the sixth-highest winning percentage (.774) in NCAA history: 903-264. Williams recording 900 victories in fewer games (1,161) and seasons (33) than any coach in NCAA history. Only three other coaches have more wins in men’s college basketball history.
Williams was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007; he’s the only coach to win 400 games at two schools.