Former Kansas coach inducted

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — Between a morning ceremony when he received his official Hall of Fame blazer and an afternoon speech to a group of sixth- and seventh-graders, Roy Williams had just a few minutes to gobble down a lunch of chicken nuggets inside the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. But before his departure for that speaking engagement, the North Carolina coach paused to greet an old friend strolling through the lobby.

There was no mistaking the towering presence of former Kansas University great Clyde Lovellette. The two Hall of Famers shook hands and posed for photos. Lovellette congratulated Williams and told the coach he was proud of him. And for that instant, it seemed Lovellette was speaking for Jayhawks everywhere.

The timing couldn't have been better for Williams. The former Kansas coach who broke so many hearts when he returned to his alma mater in 2003 desperately wanted his enshrinement weekend to be a shared experience.

"It's hard to say a lot of great things about Kansas and then say a lot of great things about North Carolina," Williams said before delivering his enshrinement speech. "So I'm just going to focus on the people. And if I had to pick a hat (to wear in the Hall), I'd have one special made that would be half-Tar Heel, half-Jayhawk."

Williams - whose credentials include 530 collegiate coaching victories and a winning percentage of .802 - was surrounded by more than 80 family members and friends, including 21 of his former players.

Williams, 57, called the response from his former players "the most unique and most touching" part of his induction into the Hall of Fame. Other than memories of his mother, he said, the most emotional part of preparing his speech was balancing the feelings he has for the two schools where he has served as head coach.

Those emotions brought back memories of 2000, when he turned down the opportunity to return to Chapel Hill, and 2003, when he changed his mind and accepted an offer to succeed Matt Doherty as coach of the Tar Heels.

"Those were the two most difficult times in my life," he said Friday. "I hope to never have anything like that again. Other than sickness, injury, or death with your family, I can't imagine anything that would bother me more than that."

Joining Williams in the Hall's Class of 2007 were NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson, the 1966 NCAA champion Texas Western team, four-time WNBA championship coach Van Chancellor, former NBA referee Mendy Rudolph, and international coaches Pedro Ferrandiz of Spain and Mirko Novosel of Yugoslavia.

Williams still has many close friends in Lawrence, including Bob Frederick, the athletic director who hired him off Dean Smith's North Carolina staff and brought him to KU. Frederick arrived in Springfield on Thursday to share the weekend experience with Williams.

But Williams acknowledges there is a contingent of Kansas fans who remain "really upset with me" for leaving - and for winning the national championship in 2005 at North Carolina after four trips to the Final Four with Kansas.

"They say that time heals all wounds, and I hope that they see the kind of attention I try to give Kansas here in this process and how proud I am to have been the head coach at Kansas for such a long time," he said.

A particularly sore spot for Williams are the highlight reels that appear on the Allen Fieldhouse video board before basketball games. The editing of those videos intentionally bypasses the 15 years Williams served as KU coach.

"I've heard about that, and my initial reaction was that it did hurt me," Williams said. "In some ways, it still does. But if you look and you think about this, I'm still coaching. And we're recruiting some of the same kids. In some ways, it might not be the wisest thing to do, to put Roy Williams up on that video if a prospect that happens to be coming to visit that weekend is also considering North Carolina.

"I tend to look at that huge majority that I think is supportive and appreciative of the 15 years. I've said it, and I believe it I never cheated that place one second of one day. I gave my heart, body and soul. Perhaps over time, it will get more recognition but I think the people do appreciate it.

"Some of the things they've done, there's no question that it's hurt. But at the same time, I love that place so much. If somebody says 'Rock Chalk Jayhawk' when I'm walking through an airport, I still say, 'Go KU.' I have no problem doing that because I truly loved my 15 years. In fact it's probably the happiest 15 years of my life. I hope 20 years from now, I'm still not saying that."

The Kansas athletic department placed a full-page ad honoring Williams on page 67 on the Hall of Fame enshrinement program. The ad read: "Congratulations Coach Williams! Thanks for 15 great years from your friends at Kansas."

Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins, who wrote a congratulatory note to Williams when his election was announced in April, said there is no ill will intended toward Williams from the current administration.

"Outside of Bill (Self) the only other coaches in that video are the ones who have won national championships here at KU," said Perkins, who was unable to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony because of a commitment to a banquet in Lawrence on Friday night. "The second thing is he is an active coach, and we don't want recruits coming here and all of sudden (Williams) is up there on the screen. That didn't make any sense at all.

"The day he's not coaching any more, we would definitely put him up. Roy's a big part of our history here. People have no ill feelings toward Roy. We wish him the best. This is a well-deserved honor. Being on the board of directors at the Hall of Fame, I obviously endorse it. We're proud of Roy here at Kansas. Quite honestly, outside of winning the national championship, he's done more here at Kansas."

Williams, the fastest coach to 500 victories in Division I history, won 418 games at Kansas. He was named Big Eight or Big 12 Conference coach of the year seven times and led the Jayhawks to the Final Four in 1991, 1993, 2002 and 2003.

More than once on Friday, Williams used the term "mind-boggling" to explain the experience of being welcomed into the Hall of Fame.

Perhaps more mind-boggling for those who shared in the celebration was the fact that Williams picked up the tab - $475 to sit on the floor of the Hall of Fame - for everyone in his party.

"We didn't send out a letter to everybody asking them to attend," Williams said. "I had a hard time asking my former players to come and honor me - and paying for that ticket."

Smith and Brown escorted Williams to the podium for his speech, which lasted just over nine minutes. His voice trembled with emotion on several occasions, but he never was reduced to tears.

"People told me it wouldn't hit me until I stood up here before you," Williams said. "And they're right because this is pretty cool."

Williams spoke first about his family, starting with his mother, father and sister, who all are deceased. He referred to his mother, Lallage, as his "hero," and he expressed his love for his wife, Wanda, and his children, Scott and Kimberly. Williams also gave special recognition to his high school coach, Buddy Baldwin, who spent the day with him. He thanked Frederick and former KU chancellor Gene Budig for taking a chance on him when, "I was not even a household name in my own house."

Williams gave special notice to the fathers of Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison, both high school coaches, who traveled to the Hall of Fame for the ceremony. He credited Smith, his mentor, most of all. "Ninety-five percent of what I do came from you," he said.

Perhaps the most emotional moment came during comments to his former players. He called Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz and Jacque Vaughn "the leaders of great teams that I feel I failed because I didn't get you to the Final Four." He called Vaughn the best student-athlete he had ever known and expressed the pride he felt when Vaughn won the NBA championship this season with the San Antonio Spurs.

In conclusion, he thanked all the people there who had "made Roy Williams." Then he paused and added, "And I know Mom is watching."

¢Faces in crowd: Several former KU players attended including Hinrich, Collison, Pierce, LaFrentz, Vaughn, Lovellette, Adonis Jordan, Rex Walters, Steve Woodberry, Greg Gurley, Patrick Richey, Wayne Simien, T.J. Pugh, Ryan Robertson, C.B. McGrath and Jerod Haase.

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FlaHawk 5 years, 9 months ago

jmason ... well stated!

jmason 5 years, 9 months ago

As much as I like what Coach Self is doing with the program, Coach Williams is and always will be the greatest basketball coach the University of Kansas has had in my lifetime (that is 35 years and counting). I have tremendous respect for Coach Williams and the job that he did at KU and now what he has done at Carolina. His speech last night was what you would expect from him, humble, emotional, and filled with talk about his days at KU. Congrats to Coach.

ralsterKUMed95 5 years, 9 months ago

While I liked Roy alot when he was here, and as a alum ever-hopeful for a national championship, I would avoid the sentimentality of saying he was the greatest coach KU has had, only because I do not want to close the door on the future--what if a current or future coach wins his school 1 or 2 championships? And was a classy personality, a positive influence on his players, and kept his program free from controversy/sanctions--wouldnt all of that make any championship-winning coach the greatest ever? On the other hand, I do not hold Williams "responsible" for KU not winning it all, as he certainly put his teams in the position to go out and win it all more than once. I wish him the best (except when KU and UNC meet...), but the KU basketball tradition shall continue on in whoever's able hands it is in, in any given year.

tis4tim 5 years, 9 months ago

I am honestly tired of reading about Williams' comments regarding his time at KU. But, it's not because I'm upset with Williams. I think the man has been held accountable long enough by those who felt spurned by his decision years ago.

I know it remains a sensitive issue for some, but I don't think Williams owes any more explanations to anyone regarding his decisions.

And, I know the recruitment of kids is a cut-throat business, but to carefully edit celebratory videos for fear of losing a recruit seems a bit too much for me.

Congratulations to a very deserving coach.

pajhawk 5 years, 9 months ago

The induction ceremony last night was very moving. Roy's speech was about as classy as it gets. Seeing his former KU players and hearing him name their names gave me goose bumps. He truly deserves the honor.

That being said, I hope we meet UNC and stompt their guts out this year. Oh, and Dean can still stick it!

seattlehawk_78 5 years, 9 months ago

I'm going to go with Larry Brown as the greatest coach in my lifetime. Two final four's in five years plus a national title. If he was still here KU would have 4 or 5 national titles by now.

But I still like Roy.

kc_wildfire 5 years, 9 months ago

seattlehawk_78...

How can you name someone who got KU put on probation as the greatest KU coach ever?

Winning is awesome, but only when done by having a clean and highly respected program. Brown won, but didn't fulfill the other half of that equation.

seattlehawk_78 5 years, 9 months ago

We were on a short leash with the NCAA because of the problems with the football program. Otherwise, Brown's transgressions would not have been enough to warrant probation.

I'm not saying he is the greatest KU coach ever, only the greatest KU coach in my lifetime. He's smarter than Roy and most other coaches as well. If he wasn't such a nomad he could have been a legendary coach.

kc_wildfire 5 years, 9 months ago

Cool.

I guess it all depends on the criteria you use. Strictly based on X's & O's then I can see your logic.

For me it involves more than just coaching the game of basketball, especially at the college level. It is a mixture of sheer coaching ability with character issues such as integrity, desire, passion for the game and compassion for the players / coaches around him.

Listening to how players like Jacque, Paul, Raef, Drew and Nick speak of Coach Williams as more than just a coach but as a friend or even sometimes father figure in their jersey retirement ceremonies speaks volumes to me. A lot of NCAA coaches can turn or help turn players into NBA caliber players but I would imagine only a small portion of those coaches can truly help mold players into good men.

If my son was being recruited by both KU and Carolina, as big a fan of KU as I am, I would have an awfully hard time deciding where I would like him to play due to the kind of man I believe Coach Williams to be (and I think Self has the same character traits as Williams I just haven't heard him talk enough to be certain)...ultimately it would be my son's choice.

Fortunately KU has been blessed with great coaches, past and present.

Muska 5 years, 9 months ago

"people have no ill feelings toward Roy"

wow Lew, just a chip off the old block aren't ya

kerbyd 5 years, 9 months ago

I think people forget Roy also got us put on probation. He can say all he wants about not knowing that it was against the rules but that is his job.

seattlehawk_78 5 years, 9 months ago

kc_wildfire

I don't disagree with your logic. Roy played at a high level for a long period of time. He was clearly a better recruiter than Brown who only got Danny because of his connection with his father. Saying Brown was a better coach than Roy may be a moot point because I don't know if he could have gotten the talent year in and year out the way Roy did. But as an X's and O's guy I believe he was clearly better.

In their own ways, they were both great coaches.

JayCeph 5 years, 9 months ago

Regardless, Roi is clearly more than an average coach. Some people have forgiven him for the way he left, others haven't. I'm not sure it is anyone's place to say how people should feel about that. Let them have their emotions.

I'm more against NC than I am Roi. I understand why he wanted to go home and I can't fault him for it. I'm not pleased with the way he left (especially since he was considered part of the institution of KU, part of the family... and yet, in the end, he treated it like a job) but I know what its like to feel the tug of 'home.'

Problem is, people thought Roi was home when he was at KU. They adopted him and made him one of their own. They treated him with the reverence of a father figure that was trusted with guiding their beloved school/program as he saw fit.

Then he treated it like a job and walked. That hurt a lot of people. They'll eventually move past the sting of it but for now, some people feel things deeper than others and need more time to heal.

I used to root for NC when they weren't playing KU because they were a program that shared many of the same family ties as KU... a brother-program. Now, I wish them no good fortune at all. I think they handled their employment issue disgracefully.

Unfortunately, no matter how much respect Roi will gain back from his KU compatriots, he will be on the receiving end of all ill-will that moves in the direction of NC.

tigerbball1414 5 years, 9 months ago

I dont care what anyone says but Roy left KU high and dry!! I may have respect for the guy but as a Kansas fan I dont have anything good to say about him. And will always be rooting for the team playing UNC

kc_wildfire 5 years, 9 months ago

JayCeph...

Just curious. Why do you spell Roy with an "i"?

JayCeph 5 years, 9 months ago

I could go into detail about literary 'distance' and other esoteric crap but the reality is... well, um, I just don't want to spell it correctly. For my sake or his, I think it was born from me just dorking around. Now, it seems to fit him (at least in my mind).

ralsterKUMed95 5 years, 9 months ago

JayCeph, You put my exact feelings about Roy into words, and maybe for other KU fans as well. It is a nice summary that we came to view him as family, yet he treated his departure like a job. That being said, this particular article, I believe, gives enough tidbits about what Roy is saying about KU that he must also regret the way those events transpired. He is certainly sounding VERY respectful and emotional and appreciative of his time at KU (he should; it made him). What is clear also to history, is that Roy was an unproven nobody at UNC, and his time at KU put him on the elite list. The fact those brats at UNC would not play for Doherty, but would consider playing for Roy is a separate discussion, but does demonstrate Roy's earned credibility by that point as a coach...

kc_wildfire 5 years, 9 months ago

Roy has ALWAYS been very respectful, emotional and appreciative of anything related to KU, with the one exception being Al Bohl.

I am still dumbfounded as to why people hold anything against Roy for choosing to go back home, be closer to his family and coach for his alma mater. To me that sounds like the ideal situation for anyone.

Instead of berating him for leaving they should thank him for 15 years he was here for and for putting KU basketball on the national map again.

jross1972 5 years, 9 months ago

I'm just glad that Jayhawks everywhere seem to be softening to the man.

Does my heart good.

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