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University of North Carolina Athletics
Roy Williams
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
What They're Saying About Roy Williams
April 1, 2021 | Men's Basketball
Quotes from around the college basketball landscape on the retirement of Roy Williams:
Virginia head coach Tony Bennett
"It was an absolute honor to coach against Roy. He is one of the legends of the game and he truly cared about the young men he coached. He always had a kind word for everyone. I wish him nothing but the best, and also really low golf scores."
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim
"Congratulations to Coach Williams on a remarkable career. At Syracuse, we've always appreciated the challenge of competing against his teams. We wish him the best! Williams' time as an NCAA coach is done, but his influence in the league will remain strong."
Carolina football head coach Mack Brown
"Congratulations to coach Williams on his retirement. He is one of the greatest coaches, in any sport, that has ever done it. Factoring in his work on the court, his role as a mentor, his generosity, and his kindness, there aren't many like coach Williams. He's been a wonderful friend as we've journeyed through this profession together, and while I'm sad to see he's putting his whistle down, I wish him nothing but the nest as he moves on to this next chapter. I'm forever grateful to call him my friend. Thank you for everything coach."
Stanford head coach Jerod Haase
"Coach Williams is simply the best. In 17 years as player and staff member, I have seen first-hand how amazing he is as a coach and as a person. His impact on the game has been great, and his impact on his players has been immeasurable."
Kentucky head coach John Calipari
"I want to congratulate Roy Williams on a fantastic career and wish he and his wife, Wanda, the absolute best as they move on to the next part of their lives. I am so thankful for Roy's friendship throughout the years. He is someone I could call about anything and did so many, many times. I have the ultimate respect for Roy in how he did his job, how he coached his team, how he won at the highest level, and most importantly, how he cared about his players. He won everywhere he has been and has coached some of the game's best players. He will go down as one of the greatest coaches in the history of our game.
"The thing that speaks to me the most about Roy is how he never forgot about the people who helped get him there. Roy would always make sure his high school coach, Buddy Baldwin from Asheville, was sitting behind his bench and along for every step of the journey. And then the respect he had and showed for Coach Smith was always first class. His ability to give credit and respect the tradition and those before him was, to me, something that always said who he was as a coach and a man. The game is going to miss his everyday presence."
NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt
"The NCAA congratulates Coach Roy Williams on his remarkable coaching career, which spanned more than four decades at two of the great programs in the history of college basketball. The 900-plus wins, nine Final Fours, six appearances in the national title game and three national championships at Kansas and North Carolina add up to a Hall of Fame career that is among the greatest in the history of coaching, yet his greatest legacy may be the successful young men he mentored and developed. We thank Coach Williams for his many contributions to college basketball, and while we'll all miss seeing him on the sidelines, we're thrilled for the additional opportunities he now has to be with his loved ones."
Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton
"Growing up in North Carolina and being a tremendous fan of ACC basketball, I recognize the historical importance of North Carolina to the ACC and college basketball. Coach Williams carried on so well the rich tradition of the UNC basketball program, and he did so with great professionalism and loyalty. He has been a fantastic ambassador for our great sport. The landscape of college basketball has changed tremendously but the Carolina tradition because of Roy Williams is as strong as it has ever been. He is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the title, and we want to wish him and his family well as they begin this new phase of their lives."
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo
"Roy Williams is one of the best coaches and best people in college basketball. I've had the privilege to coach against him many, many times and I've always had great respect and admiration for not only what a great coach he is, but for how he has run his program and the class he has brought to college athletics. It will be different to look at the North Carolina sideline and not see Roy there, but I wish him my very best after an incredible career as one of the great coaches in college basketball history."
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski
"Like everyone, I was surprised to read today's announcement about Roy Williams' retirement. College basketball is losing one of its greatest coaches and a man who genuinely cares about the game of basketball, and more importantly, the people who play it. Ry has led two iconic programs as a head coach and did so in exemplary fashion. I have the utmost respect for Roy and his family, who represented themselves and their institutions with class, grace and humility. While were on opposite sides of college basketball's greatest rivalry, we both understood how lucky we were to be part of it and always tried to represent it in the way it deserved. Personally, I will miss competing against hi, seeing him at coaches meetings and having an opportunity to discuss how to make our game even better. Roy is a great friend, and our sport was very fortunate to have him as long as it did. We have all benefitted from his longevity and commitment to coaching. His legacy is secure as one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history."
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips:
"On behalf of the ACC, we extend a heartfelt congratulations to Roy Williams on a remarkable career. His resume of accomplishments speaks for itself. More importantly, the countless lives he positively affected surpasses all of the individual honors and awards. Roy's fingerprints will forever be on the sport of college basketball, and specifically the Atlantic Coast Conference. We wish him, Wanda and his entire family all the best as he begins this next chapter of an amazing life."
Virginia head coach Tony Bennett
"It was an absolute honor to coach against Roy. He is one of the legends of the game and he truly cared about the young men he coached. He always had a kind word for everyone. I wish him nothing but the best, and also really low golf scores."
Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim
"Congratulations to Coach Williams on a remarkable career. At Syracuse, we've always appreciated the challenge of competing against his teams. We wish him the best! Williams' time as an NCAA coach is done, but his influence in the league will remain strong."
Carolina football head coach Mack Brown
"Congratulations to coach Williams on his retirement. He is one of the greatest coaches, in any sport, that has ever done it. Factoring in his work on the court, his role as a mentor, his generosity, and his kindness, there aren't many like coach Williams. He's been a wonderful friend as we've journeyed through this profession together, and while I'm sad to see he's putting his whistle down, I wish him nothing but the nest as he moves on to this next chapter. I'm forever grateful to call him my friend. Thank you for everything coach."
Stanford head coach Jerod Haase
"Coach Williams is simply the best. In 17 years as player and staff member, I have seen first-hand how amazing he is as a coach and as a person. His impact on the game has been great, and his impact on his players has been immeasurable."
Kentucky head coach John Calipari
"I want to congratulate Roy Williams on a fantastic career and wish he and his wife, Wanda, the absolute best as they move on to the next part of their lives. I am so thankful for Roy's friendship throughout the years. He is someone I could call about anything and did so many, many times. I have the ultimate respect for Roy in how he did his job, how he coached his team, how he won at the highest level, and most importantly, how he cared about his players. He won everywhere he has been and has coached some of the game's best players. He will go down as one of the greatest coaches in the history of our game.
"The thing that speaks to me the most about Roy is how he never forgot about the people who helped get him there. Roy would always make sure his high school coach, Buddy Baldwin from Asheville, was sitting behind his bench and along for every step of the journey. And then the respect he had and showed for Coach Smith was always first class. His ability to give credit and respect the tradition and those before him was, to me, something that always said who he was as a coach and a man. The game is going to miss his everyday presence."
NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt
"The NCAA congratulates Coach Roy Williams on his remarkable coaching career, which spanned more than four decades at two of the great programs in the history of college basketball. The 900-plus wins, nine Final Fours, six appearances in the national title game and three national championships at Kansas and North Carolina add up to a Hall of Fame career that is among the greatest in the history of coaching, yet his greatest legacy may be the successful young men he mentored and developed. We thank Coach Williams for his many contributions to college basketball, and while we'll all miss seeing him on the sidelines, we're thrilled for the additional opportunities he now has to be with his loved ones."
Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton
"Growing up in North Carolina and being a tremendous fan of ACC basketball, I recognize the historical importance of North Carolina to the ACC and college basketball. Coach Williams carried on so well the rich tradition of the UNC basketball program, and he did so with great professionalism and loyalty. He has been a fantastic ambassador for our great sport. The landscape of college basketball has changed tremendously but the Carolina tradition because of Roy Williams is as strong as it has ever been. He is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the title, and we want to wish him and his family well as they begin this new phase of their lives."
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo
"Roy Williams is one of the best coaches and best people in college basketball. I've had the privilege to coach against him many, many times and I've always had great respect and admiration for not only what a great coach he is, but for how he has run his program and the class he has brought to college athletics. It will be different to look at the North Carolina sideline and not see Roy there, but I wish him my very best after an incredible career as one of the great coaches in college basketball history."
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski
"Like everyone, I was surprised to read today's announcement about Roy Williams' retirement. College basketball is losing one of its greatest coaches and a man who genuinely cares about the game of basketball, and more importantly, the people who play it. Ry has led two iconic programs as a head coach and did so in exemplary fashion. I have the utmost respect for Roy and his family, who represented themselves and their institutions with class, grace and humility. While were on opposite sides of college basketball's greatest rivalry, we both understood how lucky we were to be part of it and always tried to represent it in the way it deserved. Personally, I will miss competing against hi, seeing him at coaches meetings and having an opportunity to discuss how to make our game even better. Roy is a great friend, and our sport was very fortunate to have him as long as it did. We have all benefitted from his longevity and commitment to coaching. His legacy is secure as one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history."
ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips:
"On behalf of the ACC, we extend a heartfelt congratulations to Roy Williams on a remarkable career. His resume of accomplishments speaks for itself. More importantly, the countless lives he positively affected surpasses all of the individual honors and awards. Roy's fingerprints will forever be on the sport of college basketball, and specifically the Atlantic Coast Conference. We wish him, Wanda and his entire family all the best as he begins this next chapter of an amazing life."
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