Roy Williams shares wisdom with Carolina seniors
At the Last Lecture, the Tar Heel alumnus and coaching legend told them “it doesn’t get any better” than graduating from the university he loves.
Roy Williams is a basketball legend, a three-time national championship-winning head coach and, of course, a proud Carolina alumnus.
“You are a graduate of the University of North Carolina — it doesn’t get any better,” Williams ’72, ’73 (MA) told the Class of 2026 May 1 while delivering the Last Lecture, part of Carolina Alumni’s Senior Week, on Polk Place in front of Wilson Library.
Williams retired in 2021 after coaching Carolina men’s basketball for 18 seasons, leading the Tar Heels to national titles in 2005, 2009 and 2017. He also served as an assistant coach to Dean Smith for 10 seasons from 1978-88 before coaching the University of Kansas for 15 seasons.
Soon-to-be Tar Heel graduates heard Williams offer life lessons, words of encouragement and reflections from on and off the court.
Check out photos from Williams’ speech and click to enlarge.
