When you look at the best stretches in UNC basketball history, those 2005-2009 should be near the top of your list. North Carolina won a National Championship, made another Final Four and Elite Eight in this timeframe.
Those Tar Heel squads also had some of the best players to come through Chapel Hill. While he doesn’t get enough credit for his role in UNC’s dominance during those deep NCAA Tournament runs, Marcus Ginyard was a key part of basketball success in Chapel Hill.
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After a long overseas playing career, Ginyard is finally returning home. On Tuesday, North Carolina announced Ginyard as its Director of Special Projects.
Ginyard will not be tied directly to the Tar Heels’ basketball program, but the larger university instead. In Ginyard’s new role, he will support leadership in both UNC’s Offices of Public Affairs and Finance&Operations.
A former captain during his collegiate career from 2005-2010, Ginyard developed a reputation as North Carolina’s defensive ace, earning his team’s defensive player of the year honors twice. Ginyard started a career-best 39 games during the Tar Heels’ 2007-08 campaign, then enjoyed his best statistical year in ’09-’10, averaging career-highs of 7.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Ginyard sniffed the NBA, playing Summer League basketball with the Charlotte Hornets and part of a season with the Westchester Knicks, but spent most of his professional career in Europe.
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Don’t be surprised to see Ginyard back in the Dean Dome once basketball season rolls around. Who knows, maybe he’ll also re-join the UNC basketball program in some capacity?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Marcus Ginyard named UNC’s Director of Special Projects
