Former University of North Carolina broadcaster Woody Durham dies at age of 76

Tom Schad | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Virginia remains No. 1 in men's basketball coaches poll The Virginia Cavaliers held the top spot in the new USA TODAY Sports men's college basketball poll.

Woody Durham, who spent four decades broadcasting North Carolina men's basketball and football games, died Wednesday at 76, the school announced.

Durham, a 1963 graduate of the university, was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia in 2015 and died due to complications from the neurocognitive disorder, which hindered his ability to speak.

"It's ironic that Woody would pass away at the start of the postseason in college basketball because this was such a joyous time for him. He created so many lasting memories for Carolina fans during this time of year," Tar Heels men's basketball coach Roy Williams said in a statement. "It's equally ironic that he dealt with a disorder for the final years of his life that robbed him of his ability to communicate as effectively as he did in perfecting his craft.



"Woody loved the Tar Heels and players, coaches and fans of all ages loved him right back. We should all 'go where we go and do what we do' and say a prayer for Woody and his family. There will never be another quite like him."

A North Carolina native, Durham worked as a sports director at several television stations in the state before joining the university's broadcast team in 1981. A radio play-by-play broadcaster, he called more than 1,800 football and men's basketball games over four decades at the school, including 23 bowl games and 13 Final Fours.

"Woody was synonymous with Carolina Athletics for decades," Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford, who was North Carolina's athletic director from 1980 to 1997, said in a statement. "And his voice was gospel to generations of Tar Heels who trusted his every word."

Durham, who retired after the 2010-11 football and basketball seasons, will be inducted into the National Sports Media Association's Hall of Fame in June.

Durham is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jean, as well as their two children and two grandchildren. His son Wes Durham serves as the radio announcer for the Atlanta Falcons along with ACC games. He previously was the announcer for Georgia Tech men's basketball and football.

Woody recently told his son @WesDurham no matter what, you go to Brooklyn to broadcast the ACC Tourney. Wes will continue to call the games. “I’d like to think the best way I can honor him is by working an event he loved to work so much.” — Jeff Gravley (@jgravleyWRAL) March 7, 2018

Wes Durham thanked fans and colleagues for their support of his father - during his career and after his retirement - during the ACC tournament broadcast of the North Carolina-Syracuse game Wednesday night. The Tar Heels wore warm-up shirts with "WOODY" on the backs and the crowd at Barclays Center observed a moment of silence before tipoff.

"I'd like to think the best way I can honor him is by working an event he loved to work so much," Wes Durham said.

A celebration of his life is scheduled for April 8 at Carmichael Arena on campus, according to the school.

One of the classiest men I have ever met in my 4 decades @espn @WesDurham ‘s Dad Woody has passed / Woody always was so kind during my visits for @UNC_Basketball Woody was Mr Tar Heel / gave his heart / soul to @UNC May he pls RIP https://t.co/nLDmeKgBVQ — Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 7, 2018

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.