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Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Roy Williams on cancer scare: ‘It does change you’

North Carolina coach Roy Williams will be back at practice this weekend after he underwent successful kidney surgery to remove a tumor on his right kidney three weeks ago.

Doctors originally thought the tumor on Williams’ right kidney was cancerous, but it was determined to be a benign growth. Williams said Thursday he plans to “smell the roses a heck of a lot more” after the September surgery:

“It does change you. Anybody that says it doesn’t, they’re a lot stronger or more wacko than I am. I really want to coach this team. And you know what’s going to happen next year? I’m really going to want to coach that team again, too.”

Williams said he wants to coach UNC for at least another six to 10 years.

“You always have people say when you hear that word that it knocks you for a loop,” Williams said. “And it does. You’re off the charts in every different direction. But I told my team that I was going to coach this team. And I felt that way.”

Doctors also found a tumor on Williams’ left kidney, but that was also benign. It was not surgically removed, but its growth will be monitored every six months.

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