“Am I happy? Yeah I’m happy,” said Robertson, a former Kansas University shooting guard now with the Sacramento Kings.

“Coach Williams will be the Dean Smith of Kansas now.”

Robertson, who attended Williams’ announcement at Memorial Stadium, said he thought he knew why Williams turned down a coaching offer from North Carolina — his alma mater.

“I think his loyalty to the players now and the past is too great for him to leave,” Robertson said. “Regardless of what happens the next 15, 20 years, coach Williams is now as well known as any of them (Hall of Fame coaches).

“To me it’s not like he would be going to a better job. North Carolina is not a better job. It’s equal. Why move and put yourself in a situation like that?

“Instead of recruiting against (Missouri’s) Quin Snyder (Missouri), it’s (Duke’s Mike) Krzyzewski. You can think of it a lot of ways. Coach Williams IS Kansas basketball now.”

Robertson said he thought recruiting would become easier for Williams, now that he’s staying at KU.

“Coach Williams staying says a lot,” Robertson said. “I know when I was being recruited it was definitely a question I had, whether he’d leave for North Carolina. He answered it to me sufficiently.

“A lot of recruits felt the same way: Paul (Pierce), Nick Bradford. The other day he said he’d never have another press conference after he made this decision. So that’s it. He’s the Dean Smith of Kansas.”

Robertson said KU’s current players deserve the credit.

“The greatest thing that made him stay are the players he has now,” Robertson said. “He is a very loyal and honest person. The fact of the matter is he committed to those people, kids and their families. He said, ‘I’ll be around to coach those kids.’

“It’s not being dishonest, but he can’t live with something like that hanging over their heads. He is not leaving for a lot better job. He has made a name here and defined what Kansas basketball is supposed to be.”

Here’s what other former Jayhawk basketball players said:

• Jerod Haase: “It’s pretty impressive. It’s hard for his stock to go up with me. The loyalty he has to this place is unparalleled. By doing what he did here, if it’s possible, his stock went up with me.”
• Alonzo Jamison: “(I’m) not surprised at all. Two great schools, but he’s here.”
• Kevin Pritchard: “It’s one of the great moments in Kansas basketball. I think we have to say we’re special, and our star shines a little brighter.”
• Nick Bradford: “It’s crazy. He stuck to his players. His loyalty to us, it’s just a great feeling.”
• Joel Branstrom: “Selfishly I wanted him to stay. I knew he was going to make the best decision. I’m just glad the decision is over with and the weight is lifted off his shoulders and he can get down to what he knows best and be a great coach.”

Also, a mother of a former player was relieved with the decision. Lorraine Hosey, mother of former KU all-American Paul Pierce, was elated with the news.

“Bless his heart,” she said. “I didn’t think he would leave. He’s so dedicated to Kansas and the school. It would have surprised me if he left. He’s a man of loyalty and dedication. Kansas wouldn’t be Kansas without Roy Williams, that’s for sure. I couldn’t see anybody else being there but him.”