UNC extends coach Roy Williams' contract through '20
— -- The North Carolina Tar Heels extended the contract of coach Roy Williams for two years through the 2020 season, it was announced Friday.
The school announced terms of the deal Friday. The deal will pay Williams a base salary of between $408,169 this fall and $595,409 in 2019-20, and supplemental compensation ranging from $1.55 million this fall and $1.75 million in the final year. There's also a $40,000 annual expense account, along with outside contracts with Nike and for multimedia obligations.
Williams, who had three years remaining on his previous contract, also could earn an addition $1 million each season in NCAA tournament incentives.
"I've said I want to coach another six to 10 years, so this contract takes me right to the edge of that, which is good," Williams said in a statement released by the university. "I appreciate the confidence Chancellor (Carol) Folt and (UNC ahtletic director) Bubba Cunningham have in my leadership of the basketball program. They've demonstrated that with this contract extension, and with their support over the past several years, which have been a challenge for all who love Carolina as I do. I thank them on behalf of our basketball program and me personally."
Schools typically want to have their coaches locked up for at least four years because it aids the recruiting process. Prospective student-athletes generally want to be assured that their future coach plans to remain for the duration of the players' collegiate eligibility.
Williams has a 332-101 record in his 12 seasons with the Tar Heels, and his 65 NCAA tournament wins is tied for second with Dean Smith among UNC coaches. Overall, Williams has a career record of 750-22 in his 28 seasons.
"The University of North Carolina is fortunate to have Roy Williams directing its basketball program and we are proud to extend his contract through the 2020 season," Cunningham said in a statement. "His results on the court over 27 years as a head coach are among the most accomplished in the history of the sport, but his love for the University of North Carolina and the way he cares for his students are truly unmatched. Roy is a man of character and integrity and I have great respect for the way he leads our basketball program."
The move to lock up Williams comes after the NCAA charged North Carolina with five Level I violations stemming from the university's long-running academic fraud scandal. Williams was not named in the broad-based allegations, nor was any other Tar Heels coach, although the NCAA did cite a lack of institutional control for poor oversight of an academic department popular with athletes and the counselors who advised them.
The NCAA and UNC are at odds over what rule violations were committed, meaning there's still a long road to resolution in a nearly 4-year-old case.
Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
