In a move that has reignited one of college basketball’s fiercest rivalries, The Athletic dropped a bombshell ranking — placing former North Carolina coach Roy Williams ahead of Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski on its list of the Top 25 Coaches of the 2000s. For many fans, it’s a cause for celebration. For Duke Nation? It’s an outrage. A stinging reminder that even legacy can be debated — especially when it wears Carolina Blue.
With over two decades of unforgettable hoops history behind us in the 2000s, the rankings were always going to be controversial. Greatness, after all, is subjective — but The Athletic’s breakdown hit a nerve when it ranked Roy Williams at No. 2 and Mike Krzyzewski at No. 3 on its list of the most impactful and successful coaches since 2000.
Kansas. North Carolina. Three national championships. Seven Final Fours. Nineteen NCAA Tournament appearances. Eleven conference regular season titles. These were the resume boosters that helped catapult Roy Williams ahead of his greatest coaching rival, even though Coach K also lifted the trophy multiple times during the same span and ran one of the most dominant programs in sports history.
The Numbers Behind the Rankings
Let’s break it down:
Roy Williams
Teams Coached (2000–2021): Kansas (2000–2003), North Carolina (2003–2021)
National Championships: 3 (2005, 2009, 2017)
Final Fours: 7
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 19
Wins Since 2000: 574 (Average: 27.3 wins per season)
Conference Regular Season Titles: 11
Conference Tournament Titles: 3
Mike Krzyzewski
Team Coached (2000–2022): Duke
National Championships Since 2000: 3 (2001, 2010, 2015)
Final Fours Since 2000: 5
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 19
Wins Since 2000: 567 (Average: 26.9 wins per season)
Conference Regular Season Titles: 5
Conference Tournament Titles: 5
Why Did Roy Williams Get the Edge?
According to The Athletic’s evaluators, it came down to volume and dominance — not just in March, but in the grind of conference play. Williams made two more Final Four appearances than Coach K during the 2000s and doubled him in conference regular-season titles, which proved to be a deciding factor in giving him the nod.
They also praised Roy’s Carolina break offense, his ability to reload talent with pinpoint recruiting, and the smooth transition he made from Kansas to UNC, where he immediately delivered results. Many forget that when Williams took over the Tar Heels in 2003, the team was coming off a season where they missed the NCAA Tournament entirely. Two years later, they were national champions.
The Reaction from Duke Nation
Let’s not sugarcoat it — Blue Devils fans are fuming. To many in the Duke fanbase, Coach K’s resume speaks for itself. The Olympic gold medals, the five national championships total (two before 2000, three after), and the iconic status he earned by building Duke into a basketball empire should have made him a lock for No. 1 or, at worst, No. 2.
Some argue that Coach K sustained greatness over four full decades, constantly evolving with the game — from four-year grinders like Shane Battier to one-and-done NBA phenoms like Zion Williamson, Kyrie Irving, and Paolo Banchero. He didn’t just coach — he adapted, dominated, and created a culture of excellence that few in college athletics have ever matched.
But The Athletic’s list wasn’t about legacy in total — it was focused strictly on the 2000s onward, and by that measure, they believed Roy did just enough to edge him out.
And Then There Was Bill Self…
As if placing Coach K at No. 3 wasn’t dramatic enough, Kansas coach Bill Self grabbed the top spot. With two national championships (2008, 2022), 11 Big 12 titles in a row, and unmatched consistency in the regular season, Self’s case is as strong as anyone’s. He’s turned Kansas into the gold standard of conference dominance and recently added another title to his resume in the modern NIL and transfer portal era — proof of staying power.
So while Coach K and Roy ruled the blueblood rivalry, Self quietly built a résumé that was just as elite — and arguably more balanced from start to finish across the 21st century.
A Debate That Will Never End
Of course, these rankings are subjective. And when it comes to Coach K vs. Roy Williams, the argument cuts deeper than wins and losses. It’s about style, swagger, and what each man meant to their fanbases. It’s about identity.
Coach K was the general. The motivator. The symbol of relentless control.
Roy Williams was the purist. The smooth operator. The Carolina family man with charm and system perfection.
Each built dynasties in his own way. Each changed the game. But in this particular debate — for this particular list — Roy comes out on top.
Whether you bleed blue for Duke or light it up in Carolina Blue, there’s no denying that both coaches are legends of the highest order. And while this ranking may sting Duke fans or surprise college basketball traditionalists, it’s also a reminder of just how lucky we were to witness the golden era of college coaching greatness.
Coach K vs. Roy will forever be part of basketball folklore — but for now, score one for Chapel Hill.
