On April 1, Roy Williams retired from his post as the UNC head men’s basketball coach. It called to a close one of the most illustrious college basketball careers of all time.
Roy Williams began his coaching life in 1973 at Owen High School in Swannanoa, North Carolina, but his days in the college ranks started at North Carolina in 1978 when he became an assistant on the team’s staff. He spent 10 years under Dean Smith in Chapel Hill before accepting his first college head coaching gig: Kansas.
From 1988 to 2003, Roy Williams led the Jayhawks to two national championship games, four Final Fours, nine second weekend showings, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances in a row, nine Big Eight/Big 12 regular season crowns, four Big East/Big 12 Tournament titles, and 418 wins, the third-most in program history.
But after 15 years, it was time to come back home to the state where it all began. Roy Williams return to UNC in 2003, and between then and his retirement in 2021, he delivered Chapel Hill with three national championships, five Final Fours, 10 Sweet 16s, 16 NCAA Tournament showings, nine ACC regular season triumphs, three ACC Tournament championships, and 485 victories, bringing his career total to 903.
To celebrate his incredible career, and specifically what he accomplished at UNC, I called on Tar Heels fans to submit to me their First, Second, and Third Teams for Roy Williams’ tenure in Chapel Hill. The concept is the same as the one I did with the All-Mark Turgeon Maryland Teams, though this time it’s random strangers online providing their input rather than my collection of friends. That means the explanations won’t be as in depth, but the answers will be just as authentic.
So, let’s take a look at the All-Roy Williams UNC Teams, as selected by Tar Heels fans.
All-Roy Williams UNC Teams
* = unanimous selection
First Team
G Marcus Paige (2012-2016, 13.1 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.4 spg, 139 games started, 2x All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman)
G Ty Lawson (2006-2009, 13.1 ppg, 5.8 apg, 1.8 spg, 40.3 3PT%, 2008-09 Second Team All-American, 2008-09 ACC Player of the Year, 2008-09 All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman, NCAA All-Tournament)
F Justin Jackson (2014-2017, 13.8 ppg, 2.7 apg, 4.1 rpg, 114 games started, 2016-17 First Team All-American, 2016-17 ACC Player of the Year, 2016-17 All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman, NCAA All-Tournament)
*F Tyler Hansbrough (2005-2009, 20.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.3 spg, 141 games started, PRETTY MUCH EVERY AWARD POSSIBLE)
C Sean May (2002-2005, 15.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 51.3 FG%, 2004-05 Second Team All-American, 2005-06 2x All-ACC, NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, NCAA All-Tournament)
Second Team
G Wayne Ellington (2006-2009, 14.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 39.7 3PT%, 2007-08 All-ACC, NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, NCAA All-Tournament)
G Danny Green (2005-2009, 9.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.1 spg, 52.2 2PT%, 2008-09 All-ACC, ACC All-Defense)
F Harrison Barnes (2010-2012, 16.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.9 bpg, 2x All-ACC, 2010-11 ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC All-Freshman)
F Brice Johnson (2012-2016, 11.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 57.5 FG%, 2x All-ACC, NCAA All-Tournament)
C Tyler Zeller (2008-2012, 12.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.1 bpg, 54.3 FG%, 2x All-ACC, 2011-12 ACC Player of the Year)
Third Team
G Kendall Marshall (2010-2012, 7.2 ppg, 8.0 apg, 2.3 rpg, 36.6 3PT%, 2x All-ACC, ACC All-Freshman)
G Joel Berry II (2014-2018, 12.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 2x All-ACC, 2016 ACC Tournament MVP, 2017 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, 2x NCAA All-Tournament)
G Raymond Felton (2002-2005, 12.5 ppg, 6.9 apg, 4.1 rpg, 1.9 spg, 2005 Bob Cousy Award, Third Team All-American, 2x All-ACC, All-ACC Freshman, NCAA All-Tournament)
G Rashad McCants (2002-2005, 17.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.5 spg, 41.5 3PT%, 2x All-ACC, All-ACC Freshman, NCAA All-Tournament)
F John Henson (2009-2012, 10.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.5 bpg, 49.7 FG%, 2x All-ACC, 2x ACC Defensive Player of the Year, 2x ACC All-Defense)
Honorable Mentions
The next-five highest vote getters: Cam Johnson, Luke Maye, Reggie Bullock, Marvin Williams, Jawad Williams
Let us know on Twitter or Instagram what you think of these teams, who’s been snubbed, who’s been overrated, and more. Disclaimer: I played no role in the formation of these teams and am not responsible for the anger you feel deep down inside your heart.
