BREAKING: Roy Williams Shocks Basketball World with $5.4 Million Gift to Tar Heels Program
Chapel Hill, NC – July 11, 2025 — Legendary former North Carolina men’s basketball coach and Tar Heel alum Roy Williams has sent shockwaves through the college basketball community with a stunning $5.4 million donation to the UNC Tar Heels basketball program. The gift, announced in a joint press conference with UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts and Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, is being hailed as one of the most generous acts of gratitude in the history of the sport.
Williams, 74, said the donation is more than a financial contribution — it’s a tribute. In his own words, the gift is “a heartfelt thank you to the coaches, teammates, and players who paved my path — from a kid dreaming in Asheville to a college champion, and later, a national title-winning coach.”
- “None of this happens without the people who shaped me,” said Williams. “This is for Coach Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, my players, and every single teammate I had who made me better every day. I owe everything to Carolina Basketball, and I want to give something lasting back.”
The $5.4 million donation will support a variety of initiatives within the Tar Heels basketball program, including scholarship endowments, facility upgrades, and the creation of a new mentorship and leadership development center for student-athletes. The facility will bear Williams’ name and will also feature a “Legends Hall” honoring the legacy of Tar Heel players and coaches who made a lasting impact on the game.
UNC officials said the donation is among the largest ever made to the university’s athletics department and will have a “transformational” impact on the program.
“Roy Williams is not only one of the greatest coaches of all time — he’s also one of the most loyal and generous Tar Heels we’ve ever known,” said AD Bubba Cunningham. “His love for this university is unmatched, and this gift ensures his legacy continues to shape our student-athletes for generations to come.”
Williams’ coaching career spanned over three decades, including 18 seasons at UNC, where he led the Tar Heels to three national championships (2005, 2009, 2017) and earned induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. Before that, he served as head coach at Kansas and an assistant under Dean Smith at Carolina.
Beyond his coaching accolades, Williams has long been known for his deep commitment to his players’ personal and academic development. Many former players have gone on to NBA success, but more importantly, have spoken openly about Williams’ mentorship and guidance off the court.
“Coach Williams taught me how to be a man, not just a basketball player,” said former Tar Heel and NBA star Tyler Hansbrough. “This donation is classic Coach — thinking about everyone else before himself.”
Williams concluded his remarks with emotion, saying, “This gift is for every Tar Heel — past, present, and future. Let’s keep the tradition alive. Let’s keep doing it the Carolina way.”
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