In 2000s, Williams is the king of March
UNC coach stands out on tournament stage
GLENDALE, ARIZ. If indeed it is possible, it appears Roy Williams has been overshadowed by the Hall of Famer down the road. Until now.
The fact is, Williams — who earned his third national title Monday, all at North Carolina and since 2005 — could defensibly be called the greatest NCAA tournament coach of the 2000s.
Williams has just as many national championships since the turn of the century as Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, with seven Final Fours to Krzyzewski’s four and 10 Elite Eights to Krzyzewki’s five. None of the other active Hall of Fame coaches ( John Calipari, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino and Bill Self ) has won more than one national championship during this span. None has reached more Final Fours or Elite Eights than Williams, either.
This isn’t to say Williams is undoubtedly better than any of these other coaches or that winning with veteran players — because he came up empty when trying for one- and- done guys — is easier or harder to do. But it is clear, just by crunching those numbers, this year’s title puts Williams in rarefied air. In short, three titles is a big deal. Even if you peel back the sport beyond 2000. “There are so few that are in that cat- egory in the total history of the game,” Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford told USA TODAY Sports. “I think he has to be considered one of the top five or six coaches, careerwise, in the history of college basketball. He’s earned that.
“Roy was considered an elite coach before he ever got to North Carolina for what he did at Kansas. Amazingly, he’s been able to build on that since he’s been in Chapel Hill.”
Swofford said he thinks winning all three titles in Williams’ home state and at his alma mater makes it even more special for Ol’ Roy. It certainly makes this spring’s achievement more emotional — Dean Smith, Williams’ mentor and friend until his death in 2015, won two national championships.
That, more than any other question about his legacy and place in the sport’s history, is enough to make Williams emotional, stunned and slightly defensive all at the same time.
“I don’t think Roy Williams should ever be put in the same sentence with Dean Smith — I really don’t,” said Williams, 66. “I think Coach was the best there’s ever been on the court. And he was an even better person. And, so, it’s a little staggering. …
“I don’t know what to say. I mean … I’m very, very lucky. I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do — coaching kids and trying to get them to have a common goal and make sacrifices. And it’s No. 3. But they’ve all been fantastic, and I’ve been very fortunate.”