GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels cuts down the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

UNC basketball coach Roy Williams named National Coach of the Year by USA Today

North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams was named National Coach of the Year by USA Today, according to the publication’s postseason awards list released on Tuesday.

Despite being snubbed by the Atlantic Coast Conference last week — Williams finished third in Coach of the Year voting behind Virginia’s Tony Bennett and Virginia Tech’s Buzz Williams — the 2006 College Basketball Hall-of-Fame inductee apparently has supporters in the national media that think he’s done a pretty daggum good job with the Tar Heels this season.

“The Tar Heels came on strong late in the season, winning 15 of their last 17 to finish as co-champions of the ACC and earn an NCAA tournament No. 1 seed,” USA Today’s Scott Gleeson writes. “While this UNC team had veteran pieces (Cameron Johnson, Luke Maye and Kenny Williams) to drive its success, it was Williams’ ability to mesh that experience with young talent (Coby White, Garrison Brooks and Nassir Little) that helped North Carolina peak now. As much hype as Duke got and as good as Virginia was, North Carolina was among the elite and it’s as a result of Williams’ coaching and winning culture.”

A 3-time national title-winning coach, Williams led the Tar Heels to 27 wins this season, including a 16-2 mark in conference play, and a share of the ACC title — his ninth since returning to Chapel Hill in 2003.

Upon completion of the regular season and conference tournament in Charlotte, Williams and the Tar Heels were awarded a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. It’s the program’s 17th time as a top seed in the year-end tournament, and Williams’ eighth time in 16 seasons at North Carolina.

North Carolina had a record of just 12-4 after a blowout home loss to Louisville on January 12. The Tar Heels then look nothing like the Tar Heels now, with the exception that they’re wearing the same uniforms. That was the turning point in North Carolina’s season that helped them roll off 15 victories to just two losses in the final 17 games of the season.

No. 1 North Carolina will face off with 16th-seeded Iona at 8:20 p.m. on Friday night.