Chapel Hill, N.C ? Time and again, Roy Williams has cited his high school basketball coach as one of the major influences in his life.
Williams says by both words and deeds, Buddy Baldwin of Roberson High in Asheville, N.C., inspired Williams to tackle a leadership role in sports.
“Roy was in high school and he knew then he wanted to coach. I didn’t do anything except to say, ‘If that’s what you want, do it,”’ Baldwin said from his home in Asheville, N.C.
“Roy could have done anything he wanted to do. He could have been an engineer, doctor or lawyer. He could have had an engineering scholarship in college. He chose to be a coach.”
Williams is such a good coach he has had fans in the states of Kansas and North Carolina on the edge of their seats the past few days waiting for Williams to decide whether he will return to KU for a 13th season or take over for Bill Guthridge at UNC.
“I know he loves it in Lawrence. I know that most definitely,” Baldwin said. “I know how much he loves his players. He has a hard decision. It wouldn’t surprise me if he stays in Kansas or comes to North Carolina.”
Baldwin, who accompanied Williams on a recent golf trip to Scotland, said KU’s coach hasn’t consulted him on the impending decision.
In fact, the 60-year-old Baldwin had no clue Guthridge would resign last Friday.
“I’ll be honest with you. This was a shock to me,” Baldwin said. “I talked to Roy last Monday night. He was in his car going to the gym at his camp. He asked me about my trip to Ireland.”
After accompanying Williams on a golfing trip to Scotland, Baldwin stayed over to visit a daughter in Ireland.
The golf trip was very relaxing, Baldwin said.
“When we are together, we never talk about basketball,” Baldwin said. “We played 36 holes every day but one. I played decent, not great. Randy Towner (Alvamar pro) was the one who played great. He had a hole-in-one. I made 2 on that hole.”
Buddy Baldwin on Roy Williams
In retrospect, Williams is probably happy he had a soothing week of golf in Scotland to prepare for the past few stressful days.
Williams, as most people know, loves to golf. So where are the better courses in the Lawrence-Kansas City area or Carolina?
“You have some good courses,” Baldwin said. “I came out this winter and played Alvamar and Shadow Glen. There are good courses around Raleigh. Pinehurst is about an hour to hour and a half away.”
As far as coaching basketball, Baldwin said Williams has one goal.
“I know he has a burning desire to win a national championship,” Baldwin said. “Whether he stays at Kansas to win one, gosh, I can’t say. I don’t know. Really the big draw here is he’d be coming back home.”
Williams, of course, is a native North Carolinan who attended UNC and coached on Dean Smith’s staff for 10 years.
In that span since leaving Carolina, he’s been a loyal member of the Carolina basketball family. Williams and wife Wanda, in fact, are listed as donors on a plaque in the Smith Center.
He’s been more loyal to his current players.
“I liked my players, no doubt,” said Baldwin, who retired after 25 years in the business. He currently works part time for the city of Asheville.
“When you are in high school, you’ve got ’em two years. Roy has ’em four years. He spends time with them since their junior year in high school. If he gets them to go to school there, there is great loyalty.”
Either way, Baldwin will continue to see Williams a lot.
“I’ve been to KU every other year, three times in the last six years,” Baldwin said. “I was there this winter. I went to two games, K-State and Nebraska at home. When I was there three years ago, I went to the Missouri game on the road. Missouri won by one. Allen Fieldhouse is a great place to watch a game.”