They hope Roy Williams will stay, but administrators and Kansas University Athletics Corp. board members understand why the basketball coach would want to return home to North Carolina.
“I think all of us would be honored if our alma mater calls us back,” said David Ambler, vice chancellor for student affairs and a member of the KU Athletics Corp. board. “If he elects to do that, it’s with my full understanding and support and gratitude for all he’s done.”
KU Chancellor Bob Hemenway
Throughout the day, reaction among alumni on the board shifted along with the news reports.
First reports of Williams’ departure brought statements of resigned mourning from board members.
“I think it’s the only job he’d leave us for,” said Jack Clevenger, a senior vice president with Salomon Smith Barney in Kansas City, Mo., and a board member. “But we’ve got a pretty full cupboard. We’ve got a great team coming back. I know it’s not because of the money. I know we would match the money.”
Diana Carlin, graduate school dean and board member, reflected the mood of those late in the day who were still hopeful Williams’ statement denying an agreement with North Carolina meant he would remain in Lawrence.
“You always know you have a coach who looks forward to recruiting student-athletes,” Carlin said. “As a faculty member, you know he’s going to give you full academic support.”
KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway talked Friday with the KU basketball coach as did athletics director Bob Frederick but declined to describe what he and Williams discussed. Hemenway, too, was holding out hope that Williams would stay put.
“When you have the best basketball coach in America, you know that’s a commodity of one,” Hemenway said. “He’s talked with me. He’s talked with Bob (Frederick). We’re going to talk some more. If everybody’d just be patient a little bit, we’ll know. We’re going to hope he’s staying in Kansas.”
