UNC Basketball: Roy Williams earns Gene Bartow Award

Former UNC basketball head coach Roy Williams continues to bring home awards even though his coaching career is over.

It’s now been an entire year since Roy Williams shocked the world with his retirement announcement on April 1, 2021. In what we thought was an April Fools joke towards the UNC basketball faithful, it was actually a reality none of us were prepared for.

Time has gone on, and the Tar Heels continue to thrive. However, Williams’ legacy will always live on, as he’ll be remembered as one of the greatest to ever coach the sport of basketball.

Even though he no longer paces the sidelines on game day, Williams continues to be recognized for his contributions to the sport. On Friday, the 71-year-old earned yet another award to add to his already impressive list of accolades.

Williams is this year’s recipient of the Gene Bartow Award, which is presented annually to a current or former coach for not only his coaching record but also the impact that he’s made on his players, school, and community.

The award is named in honor of Bartow, a legendary coach who compiled a 647-353 record in his career. He led Memphis State to the 1973 national title game, guided UCLA to the Final Four while also starting the University of Alabama-Birmingham program from scratch, building it into a program that became a team that regularly qualified for the postseason.

What Williams did on the court is legendary. His 903 wins over 33 seasons, including three NCAA titles puts him among elite company in the coaching ranks.

However, it’s his love for the University of North Carolina and his students that stand out the most, as he’s been an asset to not only the UNC basketball program but the school community as a whole.

Heck, even in his first year of retirement, Williams, along with his wife Wanda, are often seen at Tar Heels basketball games (both at home and on the road) cheering on their beloved program.

Williams is well-deserving of this honor, as he has made a profound impact over his legendary career. As his coaching career is behind him, it’s time to take time to celebrate the legacy that he created, and the positive effect that he’s had on not only the UNC basketball program but on the college basketball world as a whole.

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