Roy, Wanda Williams donated funds for returning UNC spring sports seniors

University of North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams and his wife, Wanda, donated over $600,000 to fund the scholarships of 2020 spring sport seniors returning for another season in 2021, the university announced in a press release Thursday.

UNC director of athletics Bubba Cunningham said Williams called him March 12, the day the NCAA canceled all spring sports championships, and offered to pay for those students’ scholarships.

“He didn’t want those students to miss that experience and wanted to fund those scholarships for next year,” Cunningham said in the release. “I still get chills when I think about his phone call and the impact it would have for dozens of our students.”

The NCAA granted an extra season of eligibility to all spring sports athletes who had their seasons affected by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the decision for whether returning senior athletes would be granted full or partial scholarships, was left to each university.

Originally, the Williamses asked for the donation, made in May, to be kept anonymous.

“Roy and Wanda have donated millions of dollars to UNC, the athletic department, the Rams Club and individual sport programs over the years but have always chosen to do so without fanfare or publicity,” John Montgomery, executive director of the Rams Club, said. “However, we felt this was the proper time to announce our appreciation for all they have done to support their alma mater’s academic and athletic pursuits and student-athletes across all 28 of our sports programs, and thank them for an extraordinarily generous contribution to allow our seniors another opportunity at competing in the spring.”

UNC released a video of Cunningham sharing the news with the spring sports coaches, which included messages of thanks from each of the 11 coaches.

“Things were very, very challenging and difficult,” Brian Kalbas, Tar Heel women’s tennis coach, said. “Our seniors were devastated. For [Roy] and Wanda to give this gift for them to have their senior year back is truly amazing.”

“Roy and Wanda, I’m really not surprised,” baseball coach Mike Fox said. “In fact, I think probably we should have known you were behind this.”