The Carolina basketball community changed forever one year ago.
In Chapel Hill, on the morning of April 1, 2021, the men’s basketball program shared the news: Hall of Famer and long-time head coach Roy Williams was stepping away from the game. After the community’s immediate reactions and questioning of an April Fools’ prank died down, the North Carolina native and Chapel Hill legend announced his decision to a crowd of media members in the Dean Smith Center.
“Everyone wants to know the reason, and the reason is very simple,” Williams said that afternoon. “Every time somebody would ask me how long I was going to go, I would always say the same thing: as long as my health allows me to do it. But deep down inside, I knew that the only thing that would speed that up is if I did not feel any longer that I was the right man for the job, but I no longer feel that I am the right man for the job.”
Williams led the UNC program for 18 seasons, coaching at Carolina for a total of 33 years as part of a 48-year career. He led the Tar Heels to three national titles (2005, 2009 and 2017) and is the only college basketball coach to ever win more than 400 games at two different programs (North Carolina and Kansas.)
“I love coaching,” Williams added. “Working with kids on the court. In the locker room. The trips. The jump around music. Trying to build a team. I will always love that. And I’m scared to death for the next phase. But I no longer feel that I am the right man.”
Since then, Carolina and college basketball fans have seen Williams pay many visits back to the Dean Dome for men’s basketball games, but also take visits to other schools, like Kansas, Michigan State, West Virginia and Monmouth. And since then, the Tar Heels men’s team officially hired Hubert Davis to be Williams’ successor — based on a strong recommendation from Coach Roy himself.
Below are photos of Williams’ retirement press conference held in the Dean Smith Center on April 1, 2021. You can listen back to the full press conference here.
A graphic reading “Thank You Coach” from UNC Athletics is displayed outside the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill as Roy Williams announces his retirement on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Roy Williams enters the Dean Smith Center for the final time as head coach before he holds his retirement press conference on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham speaks during Roy Williams’ retirement press conference in the Dean Smith Center on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Roy Williams’ wife, Wanda, sits in attendance in the front row at the press conference announcing Roy’s retirement on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Roy Williams looks back at former and current UNC basketball players in attendance during his retirement press conference in Chapel Hill on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Roy Williams glances at the rafters towards the retired jerseys of his former players during his own retirement press conference on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Media and invited guests attend a socially-distanced retirement press conference for Roy Williams within the Dean Smith Center on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham (right), Roy Williams (center) and UNC chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz (left) sit six feet apart at Williams’ retirement press conference within the Dean Smith Center on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Roy Williams hugs UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham as he finishes his retirement press conference in the Dean Smith Center on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Roy Williams and his wife, Wanda, depart the Dean Smith Center for the final time following Roy’s retirement press conference on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
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