If there was ever a question about whether Roy Williams would end his coaching career in Carolina Blue (which there never was), the University has answered them by signing the leader of their program to an eight year contract extension.
Williams led Carolina to NCAA titles in 2005, 2009 and 2017. In 16 seasons as head coach at his alma mater, Williams is 432-128. He’s led UNC to five Final Fours, won the ACC regular-season title eight times and finished in the top 10 in the final Associated Press poll 10 times, including each of the last three seasons. The Tar Heels’ home court at the Dean E. Smith Center was recently named Roy Williams Court after the UNC alumnus.
“I’m grateful and humbled in the University’s continued faith in my leadership of the basketball program,” says Williams. “When I coached at Kansas my contracts with Nike and our media partner were private, and UNC respected and honored that for 15 years. However, times have changed and understanding the environment that college basketball faces now, Chancellor Folt, Bubba (Cunningham) and I agreed the correct and proper thing would be to disclose those terms.”
In addition to signing a contract extension with Williams, Cunningham is announcing contract extensions for Dorrance, Fox, Jenny Levy (women’s lacrosse), Brian Kalbas (women’s tennis), Sam Paul (men’s tennis) and Carlos Somoano (men’s soccer), who each re-signed through 2023; and Coleman Scott (wrestling) re-signed through 2021.
Also, Joe Breschi (men’s lacrosse), Donna Papa (softball) and Joe Sagula (volleyball) signed multi-year contracts for the first time; each signed five-year contracts through 2023.
The 11 coaches who signed new contracts or extensions, which were also approved by the Board of Trustees, have a combined 239 years of experience as head coaches at Carolina.
Carolina also announced their contract with Nike was renewed through 2028.
As part of the contract, a minimum of $600,000 per year — at least $6 million over the life of the contract — is guaranteed for licensing, which the University directs for need- and merit-based scholarships. That’s more than doubling the licensing guarantee of the previous contract with Nike. In addition, the University will receive $200,000 per year in retail product for non-athletic department use, and Nike will hire four student interns each year.
“We’re pleased to continue this long-standing partnership with Nike, which goes well beyond the direct benefits it provides to nearly 800 student-athletes each year,” says Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “This extension makes even more funds and opportunities available to benefit our students in areas ranging from scholarships to internships and helps Carolina students across our campus.”
Nike also has increased the amount of product – primarily uniforms, shoes and practice gear – it provides to Carolina Athletics. Additional funds will be used to support women’s sports initiatives, contracts and travel for international competition. All told, the value of the Nike contract exceeds $10 million per year.