NCAA basketball: Top 25 highest-paid college basketball coaches for 2020

8. Roy Williams, North Carolina

Salary: $4,102,409 | Buyout: $8,418,374

Born in Marion, NC and playing on the North Carolina Tar Heels junior varsity team in college, Roy Williams has always had some strong ties to Chapel Hill. In fact, that’s where his first coaching gig at this level came as he served as an assistant under Dean Smith from 1978-88. After that stint, however, he had to leave the Tar Heel State to take the job in Lawrence with the Kansas Jayhawks.

While Williams never got to cut down the nets in the final game of the season at Kansas, he led the Jayhawks to quite a bit of success in his time there. They were regular-season conference champions on nine occasions and won the conference tournament four times. Additionally, Kansas also made it to four Final Fours during Williams’ time there, which lasted until 2003. That’s when UNC came calling to bring him home.

Once he trekked back to Chapel Hill, Williams has not only continued his success but elevated it. He’s led the Tar Heels to five Final Four appearances but, more importantly, three National Championships since taking over the program. Throw in nine ACC regular-season crowns and he clearly has things working in North Carolina.

After a down year in the 2019-20 season, some people were discussing the notion of UNC potentially parting ways with Williams. That, however, would be absurd. Not only has he brought tremendous success to a blue blood program but this past year was the first team he’s coached to a losing record in 32 seasons. Suffice it to say he shouldn’t go anywhere and that the Tar Heels should continue giving him the money he’s worth.