Inside Carolina had the scoop a couple of weeks back this was in the works. UNC made it official today extending Roy Williams' contract through the 2019-20 season.
Here are the details:
Williams’ new contract includes a base salary ranging from $408,169 next year to $595,409 in 2019-20, deferred compensation ranging from $1,550,000 next year to $1,750,000 in 2019-20 and an annual expense account of $40,000.
Williams may receive bonus compensation each year for the following:
– $75,000 for the men’s basketball team posting an annual Academic Progress Rate of 975 or higher
– $25,000 for qualifying for the NCAA Basketball Tournament
– $100,000 for advancing to the second round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
– $150,000 for advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
– $200,000 for advancing to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
– $200,000 for advancing to the Final Four of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
– $250,000 for winning the NCAA Basketball Tournament
In addition to University compensation, Williams also has personal contracts with Nike and Learfield for clothing/apparel and multi-media obligations, respectively.
Based on the those bonuses, 2015-16 could be a very lucrative season for Williams, especially if the Tar Heels live up to preseason expectations. Williams' base salary and deferred compensation puts him at around $2 million for next season but does not include Learfield Sports and NIKE money which is assumed to be plentiful.
In practical terms the extension helps Williams on the recruiting trail by locking him for the foreseeable future something Williams himself noted.
"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," says Williams. "I appreciate the confidence Chancellor Folt and 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."
There will undoubtedly be some complaining about the timing of this announcement given UNC's NCAA troubles and there being some connection to men's basketball. However, you could argue UNC knows exactly what its doing by announcing this now. The contract extension is a tangible vote of confidence in Williams and a clear signal in the belief the men's basketball program and its coach are in minimal danger from whatever the NCAA might do in the penalty phase of the current investigation.
As Doc likes to say: "You come at the king, you best not missed."
In addition to Williams' extension, UNC also announced that women's tennis coach Brian Kalbas and women's lacrosse coach Jenny Levy. Both have agreed in principle to new three year contracts on the Heels of tremendous success in their respective programs. Levy's team won the NCAA title in 2013 and finished second to Maryland this season. Kalbas' team finished second in the NCAA team championship last season and was ranked at or near the top through most of 2015. Sophomore Jamie Loeb won UNC's first individual title in women's tennis in May.
