ROY WILLIAMS’ CAROLINA LEGACY: More Than Championships — A Heart That Changed Lives
When you think of Roy Williams, your mind might race to buzzer-beaters, Final Four runs, and championship banners waving high in Chapel Hill. But ask anyone who’s truly followed his journey, and they’ll tell you this: Roy Williams’ greatest legacy has nothing to do with the hardwood. His legacy is built on love — for Carolina, for its students, and for a future brighter than any scoreboard could reflect.
On March 12, 2020, the NCAA made a historic decision to cancel all championships due to the pandemic. The moment broke hearts across the nation — especially for senior student-athletes who had spent years preparing for one final shot. But in true Roy Williams fashion, the Hall of Fame coach wasn’t going to sit idle. He picked up the phone, called UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, and offered to cover the cost of scholarships so those seniors could return in 2021 and finish what they started. Quietly. Without fanfare. Just because he cared.
That $600,000 gesture — later made public with his blessing to inspire others — allowed dozens of Tar Heel athletes to compete again. And compete they did, with UNC’s spring sports teams ranking among the best in the nation. The Williamses’ act wasn’t just generous; it was transformational.
Coach Roy Williams, who officially retired in 2021, will forever be known for leading the Tar Heels to three national titles, 903 wins, and mentoring countless stars. But the real story of Roy Williams is his soul-deep connection to Carolina — and his unrelenting mission to give back.
Born in Marion, North Carolina, and raised in Asheville, Roy didn’t grow up thinking college was even a possibility. But thanks to his high school coach Buddy Baldwin, who inspired him to believe in himself, Williams applied to UNC — and became the first in his family to attend college. That decision changed the course of his life, and in turn, thousands of others.
He earned his degree in education, played freshman basketball, and eventually returned to UNC as an assistant to the legendary Dean Smith. From 1978 to 1988, he poured his heart into Carolina, even refereeing intramural games and driving across the state with calendars in his car just to build support for the team.
And while his 18-year run as UNC head coach cemented his status as one of the greatest to ever do it, Roy Williams never let fame change him. He stayed grounded. And generous.
Together with his wife, Wanda — a fellow UNC alum and former high school English teacher — Roy has given more than $5.8 million to the university. Their gifts support everything from athletic scholarships to the Carolina Covenant, a life-changing program that helps low-income students graduate debt-free. In fact, their most recent donation of $3 million was split between the Carolina Covenant, the Chancellor’s Science Scholars, and Tar Heel athletics.
“Roy exemplifies what Carolina is all about,” said UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz. “Even students who’ve never met him have been touched by his and Wanda’s generosity.”
UNC’s Vice Chancellor for Development, David Routh, echoed the same: “There’s not another coach in the country who called just to offer a check for our low-income scholarship programs. Not one. Roy and Wanda love this place like it’s part of their soul.”
Even today, that ripple effect is still being felt. The Williamses’ gesture during the COVID crisis didn’t just give hope to student-athletes — it opened doors to new donors and future scholarship opportunities that will shape lives for generations.
“To be a coach at Coach Williams’ school, in a sport he loves most… it touches deep,” said UNC Women’s Basketball Coach Courtney Banghart. “He took me under his wing from day one.”
UNC Football Coach Mack Brown put it best: “There aren’t many like Coach Williams.”
Roy’s retirement may have ended his time on the sideline, but his impact? That’s forever. As he said himself: “It’s about the kids. Buddy Baldwin believed in me, and I’ve spent my life trying to pay that forward.”
And pay it forward he did — with every game, every scholarship, and every single student he inspired to dream bigger.
