The rival coach of the Duke basketball program stunningly decided to retire today.
This was no April Fools’ Day joke. It was as real as real could be as Duke basketball rival Roy Williams, the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, decided to retire on Thursday afternoon.
Perhaps the date of the announcement could have been better, but nonetheless, it’s still a remarkable career for someone who battled the Blue Devils on Tobacco Road since 2003.
Williams began his head coaching career with the Kansas Jayhawks in 1988 and will finish with 908 career victories.
The 70-year-old was 19-25 all-time against Duke, 1-3 during his time with the Jayhawks and 18-22 with North Carolina.
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While the head coach of the Tar Heels, Roy Williams and Duke never met in the NCAA Tournament and met just four times in the ACC Tournament, with the Blue Devils winning three of those meetings.
However, Williams ended up getting the last laugh against Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils after sweeping Duke this season as the Tar Heels romped in what would be the finale between the two coaches, 91-73.
Roy Williams ends his career as a three-time National Champion, all with the Tar Heels, and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
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Yes, Duke and North Carolina have a fierce rivalry on the basketball court, but you cannot deny the legacy of Roy Williams, even if you are a diehard Blue Devil supporter.
When the news broke of the announcement, I posted a thread on Twitter sharing my one and only experience with Roy Williams:
A story about Roy Williams:
— Ball Durham (@Ball_Durham) April 1, 2021
I was at a high school showcase at the college my father worked at and Roy was there recruiting Precious Achiuwa and my seat was next to him
It was the day UNC beat Miami in OT and Zion and Duke were playing Virginia...
He told me that he always checks the scores and tries to watch his former players/assistants who are head coaches. He got upset when he saw one of his former assistants lost that night
— Ball Durham (@Ball_Durham) April 1, 2021
It's a rivalry between Duke and UNC but wishing Roy nothing but the best! @KeepingItHeel
Roy Williams made me feel like we knew each other for years, and that’s how I will always remember him, with class and respect.
I hope the former North Carolina head coach has an enjoyable retirement, and he will still make his presence known around the Dean Dome when the Blue Devils come to town and express their dominance once again.