UNC Announces Contract Extensions for Brand, Coaches

Signing Day wasn't just for future members of the football team in Chapel Hill.

The University of North Carolina might need to restock the printer cartridges after announcing details of 17 contracts, including an eight-year extension for Roy Williams that will keep the Hall of Fame coach in charge of the Tar Heels' basketball program through the 2027-28 season.

Under the new agreement, Williams is set to make just more than $2.2 million next season in base and supplemental pay, with his guaranteed salary escalating to a total of $2.95 million in the final season of the deal.

In releasing Williams' new contract, the university also provided details of Williams' personal services agreement with Nike for the first time. That deal will pay Williams $250,000 this season, escalating by $10,000 every season through 2027-28.

"I'm grateful and humbled in the university's continued faith in my leadership of the basketball program," Williams said in a statement. "When I coached at Kansas, my contracts with Nike and our media partner were private, and UNC respected and honored that for 15 years. However, times have changed and understanding the environment that college basketball faces now, Chancellor Folt, Bubba (Cunningham) and I agreed the correct and proper thing would be to disclose those terms."

Williams, whose UNC teams have won three national championships, would be 77 when the 2027-28 season ends. Athletics director Bubba Cunningham couldn't be reached for comment about the university's long contract extension.

Along with Williams, the university announced contract extensions with coaches Anson Dorrance (women's soccer), Mike Fox (baseball), Jenny Levy (women's lacrosse), Brian Kalbas (women's tennis), Sam Paul (men's tennis) and Carlos Somoano (men's soccer) and Coleman Scott (wrestling).

Joe Breschi (men's lacrosse), Donna Papa (softball) and Joe Sagula (volleyball) were all given five-year contracts.

Besides the coaches' contracts, the university announced a 10-year extension that will keep the university's athletics program outfitted in Nike and Jordan Brand apparel through June 2028. Per terms of the contract, Nike will supply the university with $4.9 million in athletics products this season.

A minimum of $600,000 per year — at least $6 million over the life of the contract — is guaranteed for licensing, which the university directs for need- and merit-based scholarships, doubling the previous guarantee.

"We're pleased to continue this long-standing partnership with Nike, which goes well beyond the direct benefits it provides to nearly 800 student-athletes each year," UNC chancellor Carol Folt said in a statement. "This extension makes even more funds and opportunities available to benefit our students in areas ranging from scholarships to internships and helps Carolina students across our campus."

The university also announced a media rights contract with Learfield through June 2029 with an annual value of $12.6 million.

Contact Brant Wilkerson-New at 336-373-7008.

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