Following his surprise retirement announcement on Thursday, legendary UNC men’s basketball head coach Roy Williams addressed the media from midcourt at the Dean Smith Center — on a floor that bears his name — to explain what went into his decision.
After a Hall-of-Fame career which included 903 career wins at the NCAA Division I level and three national championships all won at UNC, Williams decided now was the right time to walk away.
The Tar Heels went 14-19 two seasons ago and just finished an up-and-down year capped by the first loss Williams has ever suffered in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament across 30 tries.
New transfer rules and the potential for players to profit off of their name, image and likeness have spurred a changing landscape across the sport. These changes — while potentially positive for players — are a stark contrast to the loyalty on which Williams has always built the team’s foundation.
Without feeling like his ways were the right ways to ensure continued success for the Tar Heels, it became clear to Williams that change was necessary for the program he loves so dearly.
“Everyone wants to know the reason, and the reason is very simple,” Williams said. “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,” the Hall of Famer added, “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.”
As the only coach to ever win 400 games at two different schools—doing so at both Kansas and UNC–the last couple years have taken quite the toll. Losses mounted more than they ever had and a Hall-of-Fame coach began questioning all of his late-game decisions.
Williams admitted he considered retiring after last season, although he couldn’t bring himself to do so with the taste of a losing record still in his mouth. This year brought some marginal improvements, but with so many players announcing their intentions to transfer or leave for the NBA Draft it’s likely Williams was facing an uphill battle moving forwards.
“I tried to give my team, every single day, everything I had,” Williams said. “I didn’t do a good job with this team. I wasn’t going to wait for strike three is the bottom line.”
Flanked by Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham and UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, an emotional Williams spent ample time thanking all those that helped him along the way.
He credited his high school coach, Buddy Baldwin, for inspiring him to get into the profession and, of course, acknowledged Dean Smith as a lifelong mentor. Former players and assistants joined many others in lining the outskirts of the gym, all as a way to say thank you to a man who has given the last 48 years of his life to the sport of basketball and to the young people that play it.
“I love coaching,” Williams said. “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.”
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines