One of college basketball's most accomplished head coaches is ready to leave the game for good.
Roy Williams, who guided North Carolina to three national titles and five Final Four appearances across 18 seasons, announced his retirement on Thursday. In his 33-year career on the sidelines, Williams, 70, amassed 903 wins, which ranks fourth all-time among Division I coaches. He's also the only coach in NCAA history to win 400 games at two different schools (North Carolina, Kansas), and his 79 NCAA Tournament wins rank third all-time.
As a result of Williams' somewhat unexpected departure, the Tar Heels must now begin to search for his successor. The next head coach will have big shoes to fill, as North Carolina only missed March Madness once under Williams' stewardship.
So, who will the void in Chapel Hill? Does the university prefer a familiar face with Carolina roots, or will they go against the grain, and select an outside voice with fresh ideas?
Bobby Reagan, who writes about college hoops for Barstool Sports, offered his own list of potential coaching candidates on The Zach Gelb Show on Thursday.
"It feels like they're probably going to stay in the family," Reagan said. "I would guess it's probably down between [UNC assistant coach] Hubert Davis and [UNC-Greensboro head coach] Wes Miller. The Carolina way they do it, which is kind of weird, because it's one of the best jobs in America. You'd think like, 'Hey, if we can go get the best coach possible, whether he was ties to Carolina or not, we're going to go do that.' And I like Wes a lot. I think Wes Miller's going to be a heck of a coach -- he already is a heck of a coach. He's going to be a heck of a high-major coach...
"If I'm a UNC guy making that call, I'd be like, 'Man, I really wish we saw Wes Miller at another step up for a year or two.' But the fear is -- and I said this today -- Carolina's still in the family, it's worked out. Obviously, you had Roy Williams. I mean, you're not finding another Roy Williams. But, remember, there was [former head coach] Matt Doherty, whose time at UNC wasn't the best. What happens if you get a Matt Doherty 2.0. So, it's going to be a weird search... I think it's going to be Wes Miller."
Miller, who's spent the last 10 seasons as head coach of UNC-Greensboro, made his second NCAA Tournament with the Spartans in 2021. The 38-year-old is also a Tar Heel alum, and he played for Williams' championship-winning team back in 2005.
Davis, who's served as UNC's assistant coach since 2012, played for legendary Tar Heels coach Dean Smith from 1988 to 1992, and spent 14 seasons in the NBA.
The entire conversation between Reagan and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.