Medicine Grand Rounds, Roy Williams, “Leadership”

Roy Williams is entering his 15th season as head coach of the Tar Heels. He has achieved great success on the court, winning his third NCAA title in 2017, appearing in nine Final Fours (five with UNC) and earning eight Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season titles. Even greater is the impact he makes on the lives of the young men he coaches.

Roy Williams received the Nell and John Wooden Leadership in Coaching Award on October 12, 2017. This award, named after legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and his wife, Nell, was created in 2012 to recognize coaches who exemplify Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” teachings both on and off the court.

The numbers and list of Williams’ accomplishments unquestionably place him among the finest coaches in basketball history. Williams is one of six coaches to win three or more national championships with John Wooden, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun, Bob Knight and Adolph Rupp; fourth in Final Fours (9) behind only Wooden, Krzyzewski and Dean Smith; second in NCAA Tournament wins (76) and games (100); second in NCAA Tournament history in No. 1 seeds (12); third in NCAA Tournament winning percentage (.760) among coaches with at least 50 games; first to win three national championships at his alma mater; eighth all-time in Division I wins (816) and reached 800 wins in fewer seasons and the second-fewest games in NCAA history; and sixth all-time in career winning percentage (.791)