Roy timeline

By Staff     Jul 7, 2000

June 29: Reports circulate that Bill Guthridge will step down as head coach at UNC. Roy Williams is assumed to be the leading candidate to replace him.

June 30: Williams conducts news conference to confirm interest in Carolina job. Denies reports that he’s received an official offer, much less accepted the job.

July 1: Williams heads to South Carolina vacation home for July 4 holiday, fueling speculation he’s accepting the UNC job. Signs on campus and around Lawrence plead with him to stay.

July 2: Williams in South Carolina. Experts call unsettled coaching situation involving two prestigious programs “unprecedented” situation that could harm recruiting at both schools. J-W Sports Editor Chuck Woodling calls for a show of fan support for Williams to stay at Kansas.

July 3: Williams visits UNC campus. At KU, Hundreds of cards and notes appear on doors at Allen Fieldhouse. Williams has received more than 1,000 e-mail messages from fans.

July 4: Williams meets with UNC athletics director, then plays golf with former boss Dean Smith. North Carolina newspaper reports Williams has accepted UNC job. Williams denies report.

July 5: Williams returns to Lawrence. Says no decision has been made, but will meet with Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Athletics Director Bob Frederick the next day. North Carolina newspaper reports more sources say Williams has accepted UNC job. Williams denies report.

July 6: Williams meets with KU officials, evades media horde to walk the campus and ponder his future. Informs UNC officials of his decision “based on the most important thing: My players. I could not leave them.” A crowd of 16,300 fans gathered at Memorial Stadium goes wild.

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