Roy Williams began his head coaching career at the University of Kansas, where he turned the Jayhawks into a perennial national contender before returning to his alma mater, the University of North Carolina. Known for his fast-paced offense and deep tournament runs, Williams earned over 900 career wins and led the Tar Heels to three NCAA Championships (2005, 2009, 2017). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and is celebrated as one of college basketball’s all-time greats. Since retiring in 2021, Coach Williams has remained a beloved figure in Chapel Hill and a lasting ambassador for the game.
Jim Boeheim spent 47 years as the head coach of Syracuse University, the only school he ever coached. A former Syracuse player himself, Boeheim became a legend by guiding the program to the 2003 NCAA Championship and five Final Four appearances. He earned numerous national and conference coaching awards and is known for his signature 2-3 zone defense. With over 1,000 career wins, Boeheim’s name is nearly synonymous with Syracuse basketball.
Tubby Smith rose to prominence through successful stints at Tulsa, Georgia, and most notably Kentucky, where he led the Wildcats to the 1998 NCAA Championship. Smith earned multiple Coach of the Year honors during his career, recognized for his ability to turn programs around and maintain high academic standards. Over his 30+ year career, he accumulated over 600 wins and took several teams to deep NCAA tournament runs, solidifying his reputation as one of the game’s great leaders. Coach Smith most recently served as the head coach at High Point University, his alma mater.
Gary Williams’ coaching career began at American University, then moved through Boston College and Ohio State before returning to his alma mater–the University of Maryland. Williams won several national coaching honors due to his relentless defensive style and ability to develop under the radar talent. He finished his career with over 650 wins and is enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Coach Williams now serves as a special assistant to the athletic director at the University of Maryland, where he’s most revered for leading the Terps to their only NCAA Championship in 2002.
Bob Huggins most recently coached at West Virginia University. Huggins stepped down in 2023 after a successful career that included over 900 career wins. He previously made his mark at Cincinnati, turning the program into a perennial NCAA tournament team and reaching the Final Four in 1992. Huggins earned multiple Coach of the Year honors and was known for his tough, physical defensive teams. His teams consistently competed at a high level and earned him a spot among college basketball’s winningest coaches.
Fran Dunphy made his name at Penn, winning numerous Ivy League titles, and later continued his success at Temple. Dunphy earned multiple coaching accolades for guiding teams with limited resources to postseason play, including over a dozen NCAA tournament appearances. His leadership helped define Philly’s Big 5 basketball tradition. Dunphy is currently serving in an advisory and leadership role at La Salle University after a coaching career that spanned decades in Philadelphia basketball.
Nancy Lieberman first rose to fame as a teenage star at Old Dominion, where she won two AIAW national championships and earned Player of the Year honors. Lieberman later became one of the first women to play professionally with men in the USBL and coached in the NBA G League and Big3, earning widespread acclaim for breaking gender barriers. She is a Hall of Famer with a long list of accolades and continues to influence the game through leadership and advocacy. Lieberman is currently involved in coaching and broadcasting while serving as a pioneer and mentor in women’s basketball.
