Roy Williams

Roy Williams (born August 1, 1950)

Teams coached: Kansas Jayhawks, North Carolina Tar Heels
Kansas record: 418-101 (.805)
North Carolina record: 485-163 (.748)
Overall record: 903-264 (.774)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2003-2021 North Carolina
1988-2003 Kansas
1978-1988 North Carolina (asst)

Roy Williams Facts

  • Roy Allen Williams
  • Born August 1, 1950
  • Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
  • Alma Mater: University of North Carolina (B.Ed., 1972 & M.Ed., 1973)
  • Played on the UNC freshman team, then volunteered with the varsity team under legendary Tar Heels’ head coach Dean Smith
  • First coaching job was at Charles D. Owen HS in Black Mountain, NC, where he coached basketball, golf and football
  • Returned to Chapel Hill in 1978, working ten seasons as a North Carolina assistant under his former coach Smith
  • Left in 1988 to become head coach at Kansas, following Larry Brown and a Jayhawks National Championship the season prior
    • Took the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament 14 times in 15 seasons (KU was on probation his first year due to violations under Brown) and four trips to the Final Four (1991, 1993, 2002 & 2003)
    • Won nine conference titles at Kansas, five in the Big Eight and another four after the shift to the Big 12
  • Though he nearly took the job in 2000, Williams eventually left in 2003 to return to his alma mater as Tar Heels head coach
  • On April 1, 2021, Williams announced his retirement from coaching after 18 years as UNC head coach, over 40 years in D-I coaching
  • Along with his wife, Wanda, has a son, a daughter and two grandchildren

Roy Williams Coaching Tree