During Wednesday’s news conference announcing the firing of Kansas University athletic director Al Bohl, a reporter asked chancellor Robert Hemenway if the University of North Carolina had contaced him for permission to talk to basketball coach Roy Williams.
Hemenway said Dick Baddour, North Carolina athletic director, had contacted the University at 11:30 a.m., though Hemenway wasn’t sure of Baddour’s reason behind the call.
“It’s a little hard to say whether it’s asking permission or it’s notification — but they said they would talk to Roy, and I was not surprised that they called.”
The Tar Heels tried to lure Williams to Chapel Hill, N.C. three summers ago after Bill Guthridge resigned as UNC basketball coach. After a week, Williams, a North Carolina graduate, native and former player and assistant coach, publicly turned down the job offer with two words — “I’m staying.”
UNC hired former KU assistant coach Matt Doherty, who was then the Notre Dame coach. Doherty lasted three seasons at North Carolina before being forced out April 2 after players and parents expressed concerns with his intense coaching style.
Since Doherty’s resignation, Williams has been bombarded by questions from the media about his interest in the position, but the KU coach has refused to answer any questions about a job that he has not be offered.
His frustration came to a head after KU’s 81-78 loss to Syracuse in the NCAA championship game. Questioned by CBS’ Bonnie Bernstein on live national television about his interest in coaching North Carolina, Williams questioned her sensitivity and eventually said “I could give a shit about North Carolina right now. There are 13 kids in that locker room that I love.” (Click here to hear Roy’s comment)
After Tuesday’s rally at Allen Fieldhouse, Williams told reporters he had talked to former UNC coach Dean Smith after the loss to Syracuse, but that they had not discussed the job. Williams did say that conversation wouldn’t be the last he had with his mentor.
“I will talk to coach Smith tonight,” Williams said Tuesday. “I haven’t spoken to anyone else from North Carolina. I don’t have any planned talks with anyone from North Carolina. If — and I think everyone should emphasize that word — if anything is done, it’ll be done quickly.”
Williams said that Tuesday’s conversation with Smith might not contain a job offer, but that the two would “talk about some things other than free-throw shooting.”
If and when the job offer comes, Williams said he didn’t think the situation would take as long as it did in 2000.
“It’s not going to be more than a week, I guarantee you,” Williams said. “I’m 52 going on 75 because of those seven days three years ago.”
Sports writer Ryan Wood contributed to this story.
