UNC Chapel Hill: Hall Of Fame Coach Roy Williams Retiring
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Coach Roy Williams waves as North Carolina basketball players and coaches greet fans in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, April 4, 2017 following Monday's win over Gonzaga in the NCAA college basketball championship. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
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North Carolina's Joel Berry II dribbles past head coach Roy Williams during a practice session for their NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game Friday, March 31, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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FILE- In this March 4, 2017, file photo, North Carolina head coach Roy Williams reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Chapel Hill, N.C. Williams has long emphasized the importance of rebounding and his Tar Heels lead the country in rebounding margin entering the Friday, March 24, game against Butler in the NCAA Tournament's South Region semifinals. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
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North Carolina Head Coach Roy Williams shouts toward his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Syracuse in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Jan. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
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North Carolina coach Roy Williams and players applaud during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Indiana in the regional semifinals of the men's NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 25, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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North Carolina head coach Roy Williams holds part of the net after an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament against Virginia, Saturday, March 12, 2016, in Washington. North Carolina won 61-57. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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North Carolina head coach Roy Williams questions a call during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Boston College, in Boston, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
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North Carolina head coach Roy Williams reacts after a turnover during the second half of a first-round game against Wisconsin in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Friday, March 19, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)
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North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, center, talks with his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
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North Carolina head coach Roy Williams directs players during the second half of a first-round game against Wisconsin in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Friday, March 19, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)
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NORTH CAROLINA — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Thursday that Hall of Fame basketball coach Roy Williams is retiring after a 33-year career that includes three national championships.
The decision comes two weeks after Williams closed his 18th season with the Tar Heels and a highly successful run at Kansas before that. Williams won 903 games in a career that included those three national championships with the Tar Heels in 2005, 2009 and 2017.
UNC lost to Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in his final game, which was Williams’ only first-round loss in 30 tournaments.
Williams spent 10 seasons at his alma mater as an assistant coach to late mentor Dean Smith before leaving to take over the Jayhawks program in 1988. He spent 15 seasons there, taking Kansas to four Final Fours and two national title games.
He passed on taking over at UNC in 2000 after the retirement of Bill Guthridge, but ultimately couldn’t say no a second time and returned as coach in 2003. Two years later, he broke through for his first national championship in the first of five Final Fours with the Tar Heels.
