Dean Smith retired. Lawrence erupted.
It didn’t matter that soon after the longtime North Carolina head basketball coach announced his retirement Thursday, UNC officials named his successor, Bill Guthridge.
The decision left Kansas University basketball fans wondering whether the program’s leader for almost a decade, Roy Williams, would think of leaving Jayhawk Boulevard for Tobacco Road. From the depths of Wescoe Hall on campus to downtown Lawrence, the dialogue was thick with speculation.
“I think if Roy leaves there will be a black shroud over campus,” said Erin Rooney, KU senior. “I don’t want to tell Roy what to do with the rest of his days, but I think he’s got a good thing going here at KU.”
Rooney, who went to UNC rival North Carolina State before transferring to KU, admitted she did not hold a favorable opinion of the Tar Heels to begin with.
“It’s worse than K-State,” she said of the rivalry.
The concern stems primarily from Williams’ connection to North Carolina. The KU head coach grew up in North Carolina and was an assistant for Smith before accepting the job at KU.
Some fans hoped to silence the debate altogether.
“I don’t think we should be giving him any ideas,” said Clark Massey, KU senior. “I think we need to not make a big deal about it – we just need to give Roy some privacy.”
Others said the situation would resolve itself.
“He’s got the institution here, and they’re going to offer the new guy (Guthridge) a multi-year contract,” KU senior Eric Zavilla said.
The 60-year-old Guthridge is expected to receive a long-term contract if it is approved by the UNC Board of Trustees.
Zavilla speculated that Williams probably would not want to step into the shoes of the man with more coaching victories than any other coach in history.
Despite news of Guthridge’s contract, some fans weren’t convinced he had put his signature on the dotted line.
“I think he’ll go (to UNC), that’s his alma mater. Maybe not this year, but I think he’ll go,” Lawrence resident Phillipe McCree said of Williams.
Jason Franklin, KU sophomore, said he and his roommates called an impromptu caucus Wednesday night after hearing the news on ESPN. They decided the debate would re-emerge next season.
“We believe he’ll make a tough decision next year … and stay here,” Franklin said.
Guthridge’s contract eased Jayhawk fan Alex Hamilton’s mind.
“No. 1, we don’t want Roy Williams to go back,” he said. “Since they hired an assistant coach, we don’t have to worry about that.”
Even so, Hamilton said he could understand the temptation for Williams.
“Dean Smith ran such a clean program,” he said. “He had old-time values, not just to win at any cost. He taught things not just about the game but about life.”
And these are the same traits players and fans see in Williams.
Even if offered the position, Williams needs to stay in Lawrence, fan Dion James said.
“I think Roy Williams still has something to prove at KU, being so close to the championship,” he said. “The team he has this year still has the capability to make it, and this is probably his best opportunity. I think it’s just a shame that we never got the Dean Smith-Roy Williams showdown.”
It’s not to be, but then again, neither is going back. The eruption is finished, and Williams, at least for the time being, is staying.
