North Carolina’s 10 Best Candidates to Replace Roy Williams After His Retirement

Roy Williams retired on Thursday after 33 years as head coach.

Williams, 70, spent 15 seasons in Kansas before an 18-year stint with North Carolina. He finished with 903 wins, nine Final Four appearances and three National Championships. He is one of the most decorated coaches ever. This is not a joke of April Fool’s Day.

Williams’ successor will face great expectations in North Carolina. Who are those potential replacements in North Carolina? Sporting News watches closely.

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North Carolina Head Coaching Candidate

Hubert Davis, UNC Assistant Coach

The last three North Carolina coaches – Williams, Matt Doherty and Bill Guthridge – played or served as assistant coaches for Dean Smith. Davis examines both boxes. He played for Smith, and since 2012 he worked as an assistant for Williams. Davis also played in the NBA from 1992 to 2004, and they make for the easiest transition if some attractive candidates aren’t interested in the job. However, the Tar Heels were going to do this, but why not just announce now?

Wes Miller, UNC-Greensboro Coach

Miller is another interesting potential successor, and with good reason. He played for Williams in North Carolina from 2004 to 2007 and the Greensboro native has spent his entire coaching career at the state with Elon, High Point and UNC-Greensboro. The Spartans have enjoyed five straight seasons with more than 20 wins, and include two appearances from the NCAA tournament. Miller, 38, is bound for a major conference coaching job soon. This may be the right fit.

Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Coach

Brad Stevens is always the first name that comes from the NBA ranks – think, Indiana a few weeks ago – but essentially he is always with the Boston Celtics. The next name is Donovan, who has spent the last five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Donovan had more success at the college level with two national championships in Florida, and at the age of 55 he was not much older than Williams, when he took the North Carolina job in 2003. Donovan can succeed in North Carolina.

John Beilein, Big Ten Network Analyst

Will North Carolina consider the 68-year-old coach? Beilein’s tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers did not work, but he has a proven track record of success with Canisius, Richmond, West Virginia and Michigan. The Wolverines went to the Final Four in 2013 and 2018. Beilin can become a coach in any conference and be successful. Mike DeCourcy of SN wrote, “There is little doubt that he has turned down other opportunities waiting for the right opportunity to re-enter coaching. This will not be what he declined when the Texas job opens.” Can”. Can it be a job

Porter Moser, Loyola Coach

Moser’s stock will never be high, and it will be time for North Carolina to strike. He led Loyola to a Final Four appearance and a Sweet 16, and the Ramblers have four seasons with 20 or more wins. Moser is an Illinois native, and his overall coaching record is 239–241. It would be to stay out for a fan base that contends for national competitions every year.

Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt Coach

Stackhouse is another well-known alum who completed his second season as the head coach of Vanderbilt. The past two seasons have produced 20–37 records and 6–28 records in SEC play. There is no doubt that Stackhouse will be able to use his NBA experience – he was an assistant coach in Toronto and Memphis – to keep the recruiting pipeline open, but this record potentially upset some Tar Heels about the hire. Can do.

Kenny Smith, TNT Analyst

Smith played in North Carolina from 1983 to 1987 and was a two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets. He is now recognized for his work on “Inside the NBA” and there is no doubt that he is still invested in the North Carolina program. Smith knows the game, but has no coaching experience.

Leavell Moton, North Carolina Central Coach

Moton, 46, is one of the best in-state candidates on the list. He played high school and college ball in North Carolina, and had steady success with North Carolina Central in the MEAC. The Eagles have featured in four tournaments since 2014, and have a 110–41 record since 2012 in the MEAC. This is a major step forward, but Moton deserves consideration based on that track record.

Chris Holtmann, Ohio State Coach

Holtmann is another candidate who will come for the inauguration, and it is based on his immediate impact at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won 20-plus games in each of the last four seasons, and Holtman has state experience with his tenure at Gardner-Webb. Holtmann is one of the better major-conference candidates, once worth a look.

Jerrod Hasey, Stanford Coach

Hussey is not an attractive candidate, but he was an assistant to Williams from 2003 to 2012 in North Carolina. He took UAB to the NCAA Tournament in 2015, but he did not motivate Stanford to the Big Dance in the last five seasons. Hasey is a member of that North Carolina coaching fraternity, but did not have enough success for the job.