Carolina Blues: UNC Tar Heels Coach Roy Williams Retiring

Legendary North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams announced in a press release Thursday morning that he's hanging 'em up and walking away from the game.

“Roy Williams, who led the University of North Carolina to three NCAA championships, is retiring after 33 seasons and 903 wins as a college basketball head coach,” read a statement from the school. “The 2007 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee will address the media at a press conference on Roy Williams Court at the Dean E. Smith Center today (Thursday, April 1) at 4 p.m. The press conference is closed to the public. Fans may watch at GoHeels.com.

“Williams, a 1972 UNC graduate, just concluded his 18th season as the head coach at his alma mater. In addition to NCAA titles in 2005, 2009 and 2017, he led the Tar Heels to a 485-163 record, two other Final Fours, nine ACC regular-season championships and three ACC Tournament crowns.”

As far as we know, this isn't an April Fools prank.

Williams has been the head coach of North Carolina since 2003. Since then, he has taken the Tar Heels to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances and three national championships, most recently in 2017.

Overall, he has compiled a 485-163 at his alma mater. That makes Williams second only to Dean Smith on North Carolina's all-time wins list.

Williams sounded ready for retirement following the Tar Heels' first-round loss in this year's tourney.

"I started the season when I was 70 years old and I feel like I am 103," Williams said. "It has been a trying year -- 2020 and the first part of 2021, I haven't enjoyed that much. It's been a lot of stresses. ... But each year you get to be a better coach."