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UNC Basketball: Roy Williams’ salary versus success

By Davis Wallace

CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Tulane Green Wave at the Dean Smith Center on December 3, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - DECEMBER 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during their game against the Tulane Green Wave at the Dean Smith Center on December 3, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The University of North Carolina recently announced that they extended Roy Williams’ contract through the 2027-28 season. Even with the new deal Williams isn’t among the top 25 highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

While Wednesday marked the start of the Early Signing Period for college football, the UNC Basketball program announced some big news regarding head coach Roy Williams.

The program announced a contract extension for the head coach that lasts through the 2027 season.

According to Adam Zagoria, the base salaries for Roy Williams’ extension won’t exceed $800,000 (not including bonuses.) USA Today reports that Williams’ has a total compensation of $2,182,986 in 2018.

Now, most might say that Williams is tremendously underpaid versus his team success. Let’s look deeper into Williams’ success at UNC, and compare them to some of the highest-paid coaches in the game.

Williams’ first year in Chapel Hill was the 2003-04 season. The Tar Heels went 19-11, ranked as high as fourth in the AP Polls, and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Not bad for his first season as head coach of his Alma Mater.

Since Williams has been at UNC he averages 28 wins (424 total), made five Final Fours,won  three National Championships, made the NCAA Tournament 14 out of 15 seasons, and won at least a share of the Regular Season Championship eight times. For those who value the ACC Tournament; Williams’ teams won three of them.

The only season UNC finished the year with less than 20 wins? That would be his first season. Probably the most underrated stat about Williams is that he is 28-0 (14-0 at UNC) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The only blunder in his stint is missing the NCAA Tournament during the 2009-10 season, and instead playing in the NIT.

Now let’s compare Williams’ UNC resume to notable coaches who are paid more than him.

Mike Krzyzewski head coach at Duke makes $8.98 million; highest-paid coach in college basketball.

Coach K averages 29 wins (437 total), made three Final Fours, won two National Championships, made the NCAA Tournament 15straight seasons, won at least a share of the Regular Season Championship twice, won six ACC Tournaments. However, Coach K has lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament twice (2012, 2014.) Honestly, which resume is better?

John Calipari head coach at Kentucky makes $7.99 million; second highest-paid coach in college basketball.

Calipari averages 30 wins (456 total), but from 2003-2009 he was at Memphis, and his 38 wins during the 2007-08 season were vacated. For argument sake let’s leave his numbers as is. Made four Final Fours, won one National Championship, made the NCAA Tournament 13 out of 15 seasons, won at least a share of the Regular Season Championship 10 times, won his Conference(s) Tournament eight times. Remember, Calipari has been at two schools in 15 years and everything from the 2007-08 was vacated from the Memphis Tigers. So, again which resume is better?

Bill Self head coach at Kansas makes $4.95 million; fourth highest-paid coach in college basketball. Self was hired after Williams left Kansas for UNC.

Self averages 29 wins (447 total), made three Final Fours, won one National Championship, made the NCAA Tournament 15 straight seasons, won at least a share of the Regular Season Championship 14 straight season (NCAA record), won eight Big 12 Tournaments. It’s clear that Self has been a better Kansas coach than Williams, but overall Williams has won more meaningful in March since leaving Lawrence. Yet again, which resume is better?

Tim Izzo head coach at Michigan State makes $4.36 million; fifth highest-paid coach in college basketball.

Izzo averages 25 wins (385 total), made four Final Fours, made the NCAA Tournament 15 straight seasons, won at least a share of the Regular Season Championship four times, won three Big Ten Tournaments. In East Lansing Izzo is known as “Tournament Tom,” but in recent years he’s failed to advance past the second round each of the last three seasons. Not a trick question. Which resume is better?

Jay Wright head coach Villanova makes $2.56 million; 24th highest-paid coach in college basketball.

Wright averages 25 wins (388 total), made three Final Fours, won two National Championships, made the NCAA Tournament 13 out of 15 seasons, won at least a share of the Regular Season Championship five times, won three Big East Tournament. Wright is finally at the big boy’s table with an impressive resume over the past few seasons. However, his overall body of work is no match to what Williams has done. One more time, which resume is better?

In conclusion, Williams has more NCAA Tournament wins, Final Fours and National Titles than any other coach since returning to UNC.

It appears that Williams is significantly underpaid compared to his peers, as he should be one of the highest-paid coaches. Maybe most of his coequals are overpaid and underperforming.

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