CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) – Over half a decade after ending his time in Chapel Hill as a national champion, former North Carolina men’s basketball standout Marcus Ginyard is coming back to the place that he once called home.
Ginyard, who played for the Tar Heels team that brought home the 2009 NCAA championship, returns to UNC as the new director of special projects, the school announced on Tuesday.
In his new role, Ginyard will support leadership in the Offices of Public Affairs and Finance and Operations, providing high-level operational and strategic support to UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts, Chief Strategic Officer Chris McClure, as well as Nate Knuffman, the university’s vice chancellor for finance and operations, according to a news release.
“This is an opportunity that made too much sense for me, quite frankly,” Ginyard said in a released statement. “To come back to Carolina, a place I love, a place that means so much to me and a place where I have the opportunity to make an impact on future Tar Heels and to be part of continuing the legacy of the university – it was an absolute no-brainer.”
Ginyard’s duties include assisting UNC leadership with coordinating special projects, serving as a university representative at various events, and working closely with the board of trustees to enhance community partnerships.
He will also serve a major role in planning efforts for Carolina North, a 250-acre research and mixed-use academic campus planned for two miles north of the main campus.
Ginyard brings a unique leadership background to the table, dating back to his playing days as a captain of the UNC men’s basketball team. Most recently, he gained notable experience as a commercial mortgage broker and vice president at Medalist Capital in Raleigh, where he worked prior to his return to Chapel Hill.
“It’s been exciting to connect with a lot of different people across campus and throughout the community,” Ginyard said. “Because it’s not just the University of North Carolina. It’s the town of Chapel Hill. It’s the state of North Carolina. It’s such a large, connected ecosystem, and it’s been really interesting to get to know all the different stakeholders at various levels.
“And one cool thing about it is that a lot of the different players in this realm are people that I’ve known for 20 years,” he added.
Suiting up for Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams, the Virginia native arrived at North Carolina as part of the 2005 recruiting class that included All-American forward Tyler Hansbrough and future NBA sharpshooter Danny Green, laying the foundation for the program’s success. He assisted the Tar Heels en route to several Atlantic Coast Conference titles, along with the 2009 national championship.
Following graduation, Ginyard embarked on a lengthy pro career in Europe that spanned 11 years, playing for 13 teams across eight countries.
“The way I like to think about this is very similar to how I played the game of basketball,” Ginyard said. “I’m thinking about how great it is to be a part of this team. This is a huge team, the biggest team I’ve ever played on, but we’re all working toward the same goal.”
“We want to be the best university in the country, the best state university, the best public university. I want us to have the best nursing school, the best English department and to have the best teams out there on the field,” he added. “I want people to think about the University of North Carolina as a top-tier, upper-echelon institution.”