Inside the UNC Basketball Camp: Coach Bill Robinson Shares 20 Years of Hidden Stories and Wisdom
CHAPEL HILL, NC — Few know the inner workings of UNC Basketball’s storied summer camp like Bill Robinson, the longtime coach of Milligan University who has quietly spent two decades teaching, learning—and chronicling—the “Carolina way.”
Robinson, a North Carolina native now in his 16th season at Milligan University in Tennessee, has spent summers at UNC’s Carolina Basketball School, working side-by-side with Tar Heel legends and coaching the next generation of talent. This week, he’s back in Chapel Hill to launch his new book, Carolina Basketball School, which combines personal anecdotes, coaching drills, and insider reflections on why this camp is so much more than a basketball clinic
A Camp That Builds More Than Skills
Robinson says the camp’s magic lies in its people—not just the on-court talent, but the relationships formed over drills, scrimmages, and shared passion.
“I was standing at half‑court in the Smith Center during camp one day and looked around the arena… I thought, ‘If I could get each of these guys to tell their favorite camp story and drill, it would make a great book’”
His book preserves memories of spoken humor, leadership moments, and formative experiences—some humorous, like players “taking a charge on the bus,” others touching, like Hall‑of‑Fame quarterback Joe Montana making surprise visits
Honoring Coaching Legends and Traditions
Robinson also wrote his book to pay tribute to beloved Tar Heel coaches like Bill Guthridge and Frank Fuqua, whose legacies shaped the program long before current coaches like Roy Williams, Hubert Davis, and staff began walking through the Smith Center
Securing their endorsement wasn’t easy. He recalls obtaining Williams’ blessing during a late-night conversation in a parking lot—short but meaningful. With coach approval, other staff followed suit .
UNC’s Values: Beyond Wins and Losses
For Robinson, this camp isn’t just about producing top-tier basketball talent—it’s about reinforcing a values-driven UNC basketball family:
“Carolina Basketball is different. It is a family that extends way beyond just the team. It is special… It’s not about WINS and LOSSES. It’s about PEOPLE! It’s about RELATIONSHIPS!!”
Camp isn’t a casual week of shooting—it’s a rigorous program rooted in UNC’s coaching lineage, stretching back to Dean Smith, continuing through Guthridge, Williams, and now Davis
Inside the Curriculum—and the Changes
The book includes coaching drills alongside anecdotes, appealing to both basketball fans and fellow coaches. Robinson hopes readers appreciate the Carolina methodology—the thoughtful, disciplined instruction that defines UNC summer programs
Camp Stories That Endure
Robinson affectionately recalls one electric camp evening when Dean Smith, Roy Williams, and Tyler Hansbrough all visited his gym in the same night—a moment that had campers buzzing
He also shares a classic “bus-charge” drill from assistant coach Hugh Donohue, in which a player took a defensive position against a moving bus—strictly for teaching moment, of course .
Why This Matters to UNC Fans and Basketball People
Robinson’s telling shines a light on aspects of UNC Blue tradition that often go unnoticed: the off-camera bonds, the mentoring moments, and the love behind the glow of lights and highlight reels.
He hopes the book gives readers a deeper appreciation for the culture—where coaches are mentors, players are students, and camps are classrooms for character as much as basketball .
Book Signing on Franklin Street
Robinson will be at a book signing ceremony on Franklin Street tomorrow, bringing together fans, coaches, and players who’ve shared in the UNC summer experience.
