Roy Williams cuts down the nets after UNC won the 2009 championship. (Getty)
The number of championships North Carolina has won depends on who you ask. North Carolina has won five national championships during the NCAA tournament era with their last title coming in 2009. The Tar Heels men’s basketball team won the championship in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009.
The school also lists their 1924 championship that came prior to any post-season tournament which would give them a total of seven by the Tar Heels’ count. North Carolina went 26-0 that season and was voted on as the champions.
“The Helms Foundation voted the Tar Heels as national champions after their perfect season, as there was no post-season tournament. Carolina defeated Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Alabama en route to the Southern Conference championship,” the North Carolina athletics website explains.
North Carolina had a chance to win another title in 2016, but a last-second shot by Villanova’s Kris Jenkins prevented the game from going into overtime. UNC is one of the most storied programs in college basketball. The Tar Heels went to their 20th Final Four in 2017 and have made the NCAA tournament 48 times.
Head coach Roy Williams has led the team to their last two national titles. According to Basketball-Reference, 84 players who played at North Carolina have gone on to have NBA careers.
Some of the most notable names include Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Vince Carter, Bob McAdoo, Billy Cunningham, Kenny Smith and Jerry Stackhouse.
Legendary coach Dean Smith led North Carolina to two national titles in 1982 and 1993. The 1982 team included Jordan while the 1993 team was led by George Lynch.
Smith coached for 36 seasons at North Carolina. During Smith’s tenure, the Tar Heels made 27 tournaments and 11 Final Fours. Smith had an impressive record of 879-254 and at one time held the record for most wins by a coach.
North Carolina’s first championship during the tournament era came in 1957 under Frank McGuire. He coached nine seasons at North Carolina before Smith took over.
