Roy Williams Ranked Above Coach K On Top 25 Coaches List, Igniting Fury Among Duke Fans
In a move that has reignited one of college basketball’s fiercest rivalries, *The Athletic* released its list of the Top 25 Coaches of the 2000s — and dropped a bombshell by ranking former North Carolina coach Roy Williams ahead of Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski. For Tar Heel fans, it’s a moment of vindication. For the Duke faithful, it’s borderline blasphemy.
Williams, who coached at Kansas before returning to his alma mater UNC in 2003, compiled an astounding résumé in the 21st century. With three national championships (2005, 2009, 2017), five Final Four appearances, and a staggering .774 win percentage at UNC alone, Williams built a dynasty defined by consistency and postseason dominance. His teams were fast, unselfish, and played with a ferocity that made Chapel Hill a perennial title threat.
But Duke fans argue that placing him above Coach K ignores the broader arc of Krzyzewski’s unparalleled greatness. Coach K also claimed three national titles in the 2000s (2001, 2010, 2015), but his career totals — five NCAA championships, 12 Final Fours, and the most wins in men’s Division I history — speak to a legacy that transcends any specific era. They say his sustained success, even while adapting to the one-and-done era, makes him not just the best of the 2000s, but perhaps the best ever.
Critics of the ranking argue that longevity and evolution should weigh heavily, and few have navigated the shifting college basketball landscape better than Krzyzewski. From recruiting battles to Olympic gold medals, Coach K has remained a towering figure — a symbol of excellence and discipline.
Supporters of Williams counter that the list focuses strictly on the 2000s, not careers as a whole. And in that timeframe, Williams’ three championships to Coach K’s two — plus fewer early tournament exits and a higher win percentage during that span — tip the scale in his favor.
Ultimately, this debate is about more than numbers. It’s about pride, history, and the emotional trenches of college basketball’s most iconic rivalry. Whether you’re wearing Duke blue or Carolina blue, one thing is certain: legacy is never set in stone — and in the eyes of *The Athletic*, Roy Williams has edged ahead, at least for now.
