When it comes to North Carolina basketball, few names carry more weight than Roy Williams and Tyler Hansbrough. These two aren’t just legends in Chapel Hill - they’re pillars of a program steeped in tradition, success, and pride.
And now, they’re stepping up to protect a piece of that legacy: the Dean E. Smith Center.
Renovate, Don’t Relocate
With the university weighing the idea of building a new basketball arena - potentially moving the team to a soon-to-be-developed area called Carolina North - the conversation has quickly shifted from logistics to legacy. And that’s where Williams and Hansbrough come in.
Roy Williams, the Hall of Fame coach who led the Tar Heels to three national titles, released a video that went beyond nostalgia. It was a call to honor Dean Smith’s vision - a vision that placed the arena in the heart of campus, where students could feel connected to the program and the program could feel rooted in the university community.
Williams made it clear: the Dean Dome isn’t just a building. It’s a symbol.
A day later, Tyler Hansbrough - one of the most decorated players in UNC history, with his jersey in the rafters and his name all over the record books - echoed that message. In his own video, Hansbrough spoke from experience.
The Dean Smith Center was where he became a Carolina legend. For him, moving the team would mean severing future generations from the same kind of connection he had to the place, the fans, and the tradition.
The Weight of Their Words
Since those videos hit social media, the movement to keep the Dean Dome on campus has gained serious traction. Alumni, fans, and former players have chimed in, many echoing the same sentiment: this isn’t just about bricks and seats - it’s about preserving the soul of Carolina basketball.
And UNC is paying attention. The university acknowledged the influence that Williams and Hansbrough carry in this debate.
As one school official put it, “Everybody loves and respects Coach Williams and Tyler Hansbrough. They're two of the biggest names in the history of our program.
One has his name on the court, the other has his jersey in the rafters and his name in the record books. So their views deserve a lot of weight, perhaps more than most.”
That’s not just lip service. When two of the most iconic figures in program history speak, people listen - and not just because of what they accomplished, but because of what they represent. They’re voices for the culture that has defined Carolina basketball for decades.
More Than a Building
Yes, there are financial factors at play here. Moving to a new arena could open up new revenue streams, modern amenities, and long-term infrastructure benefits. But for many, that’s not enough to justify leaving behind the Dean Smith Center.
This isn’t just about where the Tar Heels play basketball. It’s about what that place means. Dean Smith didn’t just want a building with his name on it - he wanted a home for Carolina basketball that was embedded in the student experience, a place that would unite the university and its fans around one of the most storied programs in college sports.
That sentiment still resonates. And as the university eyes the summer of 2027 to kick off the Carolina North project, the debate over the Dean Dome’s future is only heating up.
But if Roy Williams and Tyler Hansbrough have anything to say about it - and they certainly do - the message is loud and clear: renovate, don’t relocate. Keep the heart of Carolina basketball beating right where it belongs.