“KU coach agrees to 7-year deal with UNC; Williams heads back to tell Kansas players of agonizing decision to come to Carolina,” read the kicker under the banner.

Oops.

Williams is staying at KU.

“Roy never said ‘yes,’ to us,” a disappointed UNC athletics director Dick Baddour told the media at a Thursday evening news conference at the Dean E. Smith Center. The conference was hastily put together after KU coach Williams told Baddour, Smith and outgoing coach Bill Guthridge he was staying at Kansas.

Earl Richardson/Journal-World Photo

“It’s disappointing ” I will not use this as a podium for you who made those assumptions. I hope you understand there is a spokesman for the university in situations like these. To say, ‘Sources say this and that,’ puts you (media) in a very difficult situation. Some of you did that. I do not think it hurt the process or helped.

“Roy never told us in a definite way or any way he was coming,” Baddour added.

Contrary to news reports on Tobacco Road, Williams, who toured the campus on the Fourth of July and played golf with Smith that day, was never a lock for the UNC job. He called Baddour at 6 p.m. Eastern time Thursday with news he was declining the Tar Heels’ offer.

“I never felt that (Williams would choose UNC) was an absolute. I told coach Smith, ‘We will not leave a stone unturned on his visit. It’s like he doesn’t know us,”’ Baddour said. “I felt very good when Roy left campus. I felt Roy and his visit went extremely well. I told my wife, ‘We’ve done everything we can do. It’s out of our hands.'”

Baddour said, “I do not feel in any way financial issues played a role. I believe what Roy told me, coach Smith and coach Guthridge and the people of Kansas was the reason he’s staying. His devotion to his players impacted his decision more than anything else.”

After his great visit to Chapel Hill, Williams flew back to his beach house in Charleston, S.C., and returned to Lawrence Wednesday night. He agonized over the decision Thursday before choosing KU.

“Obviously we in the Carolina family are tremendously disappointed,” Baddour said. “In talking to coach myself, coach Smith and coach Guthridge, each time he indicated the deciding factor was his loyalty to his players. It helped him make his decision.

“I know our fans are disappointed because of the respect and love for coach Williams.”

Of his ongoing search for a coach, he said: “We’ll continue to operate (in coach search) as we have. I’ll seek the resources I have. I’ll continue to talk with the basketball community and university community.”

Baddour said outgoing coach Guthridge is still serving as leader of the program until a new coach is in place. Carolina’s current assistants have been told to hit the road recruiting on Saturday in accordance with NCAA rules.

“As soon as possible,” Baddour said, asked when he’d like to land a coach. “I said when coach Guthridge announced his retirement we’d be aggressive. Coach Williams for us was an obvious choice. We had unanimous support for him.”

Baddour said the search would include coaches in and outside the Carolina family. Eddie Fogler of South Carolina may be the new front-runner, but Baddour said he would not discuss candidates.

He said he has talked to other candidates even during the recruitment of Williams.

“No, absolutely not,” he said, asked if he was discouraged. “This is the University of North Carolina, in my judgment the top basketball program in the world.”

He was asked if Williams declining the offer will hurt UNC’s image in looking for a new coach.

“No. I think Roy had to decide what’s in his best interests,” Baddour said. “I think people in this country know what North Carolina basketball is about.”

Carolina legend Smith did not attend the press conference. He has said repeatedly he won’t discuss the search or talks with Williams.

“I have talked with coach several times,” Baddour said. “It’s hard for me to speak for coach Smith. Like the whole Carolina family, he is disappointed. He has tremendous respect and admiration for Roy and that will not change. He wishes Roy every success as does coach Guthridge.”