Roy Williams might hear a boo or two on Thursday.
Then again, Wake Forest men’s basketball fans might give Kansas’ coach a rousing ovation before the Jayhawks’ 6:05 p.m. nonconference battle against the Demon Deacons at Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
“I really don’t expect any problems,” said Williams. He will be making his first public appearance in his home state since declining a job offer at his alma mater the University of North Carolina in July.
“If there are any negative things that happen, I guess we’ll have to roll with the punches. If there’s not, that’ll be OK too. In my situation, I am going to try to focus on the game and our task at hand. I’m going back thinking about playing a basketball game,” Williams added.
Williams won’t be thinking about the events of last summer when he rejected a chance to replace Bill Guthridge as basketball coach at UNC in Chapel Hill.
He hopes the fans have moved on with their lives, also.
“Most of the people at the game will be Wake Forest fans, not North Carolina fans,” Williams said.
“One or two of those people may cheer for me, there are such anti-Carolina people in that league (ACC) sometimes,” he added, grinning.
Wake Forest coach Dave Odom believes the Demon Deacon fans will treat KU’s coach with respect.
“I don’t think there’s any bitterness at Wake Forest at all,” Odom quipped.
What about 100 miles down the road in Chapel Hill?
“I’m sure there are still those who would like to have Roy head coach at the University of North Carolina,” Odom said.
Ex-KU assistant Matt Doherty wound up taking the Tar Heel job and is off to a 4-2 start.
“Far and away the majority understand his right to make a decision and the fact he made it for the right reasons,” Odom noted. “Even if there are certain people in the state that see it as some sort of slam at the University of North Carolina … even in their deepest darkest moments, those people have to admit Roy had the right to make the decision he felt was right for himself, his family and his program. Roy is smart enough, mature enough to know you can’t please even one half the people all the time.”
Still, Williams cares what people in Chapel Hill think of him. He’s been back once since Decision Day in August when his drove his daughter back to school. Kimberly Williams is a UNC student and member of the dance team.
“I still love the University of North Carolina, still love that basketball program, still love that state,” said Williams, a Spruce Pine, N.C., native who graduated from UNC and coached on Dean Smith’s Tar Heel staff for 10 years.
“That has not changed. I think the North Carolina family, the players and coaches, even if they were disappointed initially, they’ve understood a little bit more as time goes along. They realize what I have here.
“Matt said a lot of nice things at his press conference about how much I care about that program. Coach Smith has been sensational.
“Time heals all wounds. I’ve talked to a lot of people and gotten a great deal of support. I am sure I disappointed some of them, some of them have even expressed that to me. I don’t think they turned their back on me. They are understanding more and more.”
Williams will always follow the Tar Heel program.
“I do feel I care more about that program than anybody else in the whole world,” Williams said.
It’s not as if Williams’ decision to stay at KU ruined the Heels’ tradition-rich program. Doherty is known as one of the top young coaches and recruiters in the business.
“Roy would never say this, but he had to know there were several outstanding candidates for that job. It was not like he was leaving that university unprotected. He didn’t jilt them to the point it left them in a horrible situation,” Odom said. “People are beginning to understand Roy did what he did for all the right reasons and the people at North Carolina are excited about Matt Doherty and the job he’ll do there. It worked out well for everybody.”
