The 1978–79 William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team represented the College of William & Mary in intercollegiate basketball during the 1978–79 season.
Under the second year of head coach Bruce Parkhill, the team finished the season 9–17.
This was the 74th season of the collegiate basketball program at William & Mary.
For the second consecutive season, the Tribe played as an Independent.
Starting in 1978, William & Mary athletic teams dropped the nickname Indians in favor of the Tribe.