Busting Brackets
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ACC Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands before North Carolina's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands before North Carolina's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images) /
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COLLEGE PARK, MD – MAY 6: University of Maryland basketball coach Gary WIlliams (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD – MAY 6: University of Maryland basketball coach Gary WIlliams (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

4. Gary Williams – Maryland (2000-2011)

At the early part of this century, the ACC was a powerful conference because of teams like Maryland, with Williams having built one of the nation’s most successful programs. He originally joined the Terrapins in 1989 and had already led the program to four Sweet Sixteens before the turn of the century. However, things were about to get even better in College Park.

In 2001, Williams led the Terrapins to the first Final Four in program history, blowing a huge lead in a bitter loss to rival Duke. The following season was even more impressive, with the Juan Dixon-led Terrapins securing their first national championship. While he never had another team quite as successful as that 2002 squad, Williams led Maryland to a number of Tournaments and rankings before retiring in 2011, leaving quite a legacy behind.

Even though Maryland left the ACC in 2014, that championship team and Williams’ overall success still has a major place in ACC history. This Hall of Fame coach left his mark on college basketball, leaving big shoes for current coach Mark Turgeon to fill in the Big Ten. Only time will tell if Maryland can ever replicate this success, though it will certainly come without facing teams like Duke multiple times a year.