Brian Frederick’s version of UNC hiring

By Brian Frederick, The Daily Tar Heel     Jul 12, 2000

? Fortunately, I’ve never had to choose between Carolina and Kansas.

Well, in 1997, I had to decide on my NCAA tourney bracket that Carolina would in fact beat Kansas in the championship game.

My friends couldnÃ-t believe I’d take the Tar Heels over the Jayhawks. I grew up a Jayhawk — my blood is crimson and blue.

But my brother was playing on the Tar Heels at the time, so it was an easy decision.

Choosing between two shades of blue was not so easy for Roy Williams, however. Roy can be thought of as the son who headed West years ago to find gold. Thanks to his determination, he’s had some luck, though he’s still looking for the mother lode.

Two weeks ago, a call came from back East. Come home and run the family business. A dream come true for Roy. Only Roy realizes he doesnÃ-t want to leave the West.

He wants to see his business in Kansas succeed.

And with his decision, the Kansas-Carolina connection just grew stronger.

Let me explain by relating my (very minor) link in the chain.

Years ago, Dean Smith played at Kansas. He later went on to recruit my dad, Bob Frederick, who is now the athletics director at Kansas, and encouraged him to attend Kansas. (Smith recently told me the story of taking my dad to dinner in St. Louis forty-plus years ago, which told me a lot about why he’s so respected. He remembers people’s stories.)

Anyway, 12 years ago, Smith encouraged my dad to hire Roy. And, of course, Smith had incredible foresight.

Roy’s son, Scott, and my brother, Brad, became fast friends and went on to attend UNC and play for the Tar Heels.

I had so much fun visiting Chapel Hill, I decided to seek a masterÃ-s in journalism at UNC. A year later, I am the summer editor of The Daily Tar Heel and I love the job. (We only come out on Thursday in the summer. Can’t imagine this job on a daily basis.)

It seemed to be a relatively slow summer, until the news of Bill Guthridge’s resignation broke on a Thursday. Missed the story that week, but vowed to have Roy’s story in time for the next.

What a long week it was. I ended up bothering my dad every day. Of course, m mom couldnÃ-t turn me away, like she does to so many other pesky reporters. But, of course, my dad had no scoop for me.

The days grew longer, and reporters looked for any story to send home from Chapel Hill. Before I knew it, someone had figured out my connection to the situation and next thing I knew, I was interviewed for TV, newspapers and my favorite, sports talk radio.

(Anybody ever heard of “The Hossî?”) Most were simply hoping I’d slip and blurt out Roy’s intentions.

I bring this up simply to point out the absurdity of the entire affair. While Roy said heÃ-d take a week to decide, the media was obsessed with getting the scoop. So much so, that there were numerous reports Roy had taken the job, deeply wounding the credibility of one local paper.

When Roy decided to stay, I was happy for everyone back home, most importantly, my folks. I was sorry, as a Carolina fan, I wouldn’t get to see him on the UNC sideline. Further, I was sorry he had decided on a Thursday, as The DTH would again miss the story by a week.

We wonÃ-t miss the story this week, though.

Tuesday night, Carolina named Matt Doherty its new head coach. A former Tar Heel, Doherty played for Smith and at Kansas, under Roy, Doherty grew into a coach promising enough to be given the UNC reins.

As Doherty succeeds, Carolina fans will soon forget Roy’s decision and realize the silver lining in the situation: Wiliams learned from Smith.; Doherty learned from Smith and Williams.

Two great teachers to emulate. The Kansas-Carolina connection can only grow stronger.

Meanwhile, the whole ordeal has left me feeling tarred and feathered.

  • Brian Frederick, 25, is a 1993 graduate of Lawrence High School. He is the son of Bob and Margey Frederick.
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