An emotional Roy Williams was joined by UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham and UNC chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz during his retirement press conference within the Dean Smith Center on UNC’s campus on Thursday, April 1.
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 begins his retirement speech with a joke and a smile 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)
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham listens on as Roy Williams talks during his retirement press conference 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)
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)
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)
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 sits socially-distanced from other speakers at his retirement press conference due to COVID-19 protocols on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Roy Williams answers a question from the media during his retirement press conference within the Dean Smith Center on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
An emotional Roy Williams finishes his retirement press conference speech at 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)
Former UNC basketball player and current UNC-Greensboro head coach Wes Miller shakes hands with Roy Williams following Williams’ retirement press conference on Thursday, April 1. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)
Related Stories
‹

Chansky's Notebook: The ArenaArt Chansky wonders aloud whether alumni and fans can afford to support UNC in this ever-changing world of play for play.

'This is a Loud Voice': Former UNC Trustee Discusses Push to 'Renovate, Don't Relocate' Dean Smith CenterThere are many contentious issues currently being discussed on the UNC campus. But perhaps none are more contentious than the state of the Dean Smith Center and its future. Decision-makers at UNC have reportedly been pushing for a new basketball arena on a parcel of land known as Carolina North, located on the former Horace […]
![]()
On Air Today: Rusty Carter, Saying 'Renovate Don't Relocate' for UNC's Smith CenterAaron chats with Rusty Carter, who's leading the "Renovate Don't Relocate" effort to keep UNC men's basketball at the Smith Center.

ESPN College GameDay to Visit UNC Before Feb. 7 Game vs. DukeESPN College GameDay, the network’s flagship college basketball studio show, will broadcast live from the Dean Smith Center the morning of Feb. 7 before the Tar Heels host rival Duke that evening. SEE YOU SOON 🗣️ @CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/al7eFPNPLi — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) January 31, 2026 The broadcast will begin at 10 a.m. on the Smith […]

Chansky's Notebook: Best of BothUNC's Lee Roberts favors a compromise between Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Smith Center, and he is well schooled with what went wrong here.

Student Seating, Fan Experience, Wins: UNC Chancellor Comments on Dean Smith Center's FutureUNC Chancellor Lee Roberts addressed members of the media during the most recent meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees Thursday. During his comments, Roberts addressed speculation surrounding the future of the Dean Smith Center, home of the UNC men’s basketball program. Below are Roberts’ full comments on the arena: There is a commitment on […]

Chansky's Notebook: Here's the PlanUNC has already paid millions to so-called consultants about options for the Smith Center, which you and I could submit for free.

Chansky's Notebook: Save the Dean Dome!Though no announcement has been made, it sure looks like UNC chancellor Lee Roberts is leaning toward building an off-campus basketball arena.

Chansky's Notebook: The Dean Dome's Greatest GamesArt Chansky remembers some of UNC's greatest games ever played in the Dean Smith Center, which opened in 1986.

Chansky's Notebook: The Dean Dome's FoundationsUNC has won 499 games at the Smith Center since it opened on January 18, 1986. Art Chansky digs into the arena's origins.
›