Roy Williams leaving Kansas for UNC

ESPN ^ | April 14, 2003 | ESPN

[jern]

Williams leaving Kansas for UNC

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESPN.com news services

Roy Williams, who coached the Kansas Jayhawks to the Final Four four times in the last 15 years, is heading home to take over the North Carolina basketball program, the Kansas City Star is reporting.

Williams, a North Carolina native and Tar Heels graduate, met with his players Monday afternoon. He did tell the Jayhawks in the days following their loss to Syracuse in the national championship game that they would be the first to know of his decision.

The Lawrence (Kan.) Journal World is reporting that Williams boarded a private jet for Chapel Hill following the players-only meeting. A news conference is scheduled for tonight at 9:30 ET in Chapel Hill.

Three years ago, the 52-year-old Williams waited more than a week before turning down North Carolina to remain at Kansas. The Tar Heels instead replaced Bill Guthridge with Matt Doherty, who resigned April 1 with three years left on his contract.

Doherty went 53-43, missed the NCAA Tournament two years in a row, and alienated some of his players and North Carolina athletic department staff before being ousted more than a week ago.

On Wednesday, Kansas chancellor Robert Hemenway fired athletics director Al Bohl, whose relationship with Williams had been strained ever since Bohl was hired two years ago.

Bohl said that Williams orchestrated his dismissal, but Hemenway denied he fired Bohl to convince Williams to stay at Kansas. Hemenway added that Williams never indicated to him he wanted Bohl fired.

Williams has won 418 games and been to four Final Fours, but never has won the national title.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

They're all over this story on the local news. Roy Williams is/was a hero at KU.

[NautiNurse]

This is good news for exasperated Tar Heel basketball junkies--although, I would have given Dougherty another year.

[RAT Patrol]

Sad for Kansas but I am not surprised. I wish Roy all the best in his new job.

[NautiNurse]

Your loss is surely our gain...

[RAT Patrol]

You are going to be very happy with him.

[Support Free Republic]

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[NautiNurse]

Williams has been the coach of choice since Dean Smith retired.

[TommyDale]

We may be happy with Williams, but we are still stuck with the current Athletic Director, Badddour.

[RAT Patrol]

Roy stayed last time only because he wanted to honor his commitment to his players. He's a classy guy.

[Labyrinthos]

Roy Williams is/was a "hero" at KU.

"Hero," I think not. Real heros risk their personal health, safety, or welfare for the benefit of others, like what our soldiers are doing in Iraq and Afghanastan, and like what the fire fighters, police officers, and EMT's did in the immediate aftermath of 09.11. Coaching a basketball team doesn't even come close.

[RAT Patrol]

LOL! Roy will straighten him out.

[Mister Magoo]

OK, someone needs to lighten up a bit.

[TheBigB]

Roy is a class act. NC will be happy with him. Who does KU look at now? Danny Manning?

[Illbay]

Last I heard he told UNC to stop bothering him about it, he wasn't leaving.

[KsSunflower]

I don't think you speak for all K.U. fans.

Many here were pretty fed up last week when he would not, even going into what could have been one of the biggest weeks in the history of Kansas basketball, say up front that he had made his decision three years ago and that he was the Kansas coach and not interested in any other position.

We didn't mind the drama last time because we all knew that NC was his "dream" job and were prepared for his departure. When he stayed then, we and I'm sure his future recruits felt secure that he was at Kansas for life, that he had given his FINAL ANSWER. All of the foot dragging of the past two weeks pretty much had many here fed up.

Many now feel...fine, go, we are sick of riding this train everytime someone says North Carolina!

[KsSunflower]

Self from Illinois, who was on staff in 1988...the last pre-Roy year, when we won the National Championship is the name being floated most.

[MikeD]

My question now is who do we blame if the Heels fail to win 20 games & reach the tournament again this coming year? I know Roy is the guy everyone wanted, but I'm not sure that coming home was such a good idea for him. It's not like he was coaching Southwest Missouri State or anything...

MD

[Howlin]

Lighten up.

[Howlin]

NC will be happy with him.

Until he doesn't win.