Journal-World File PhotoNorth Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour made the phone call Kansas University basketball fans dreaded Wednesday morning, asking KU senior associate AD Richard Konzem for permission to speak with coach Roy Williams about the Tar Heels’ coaching vacancy.
“The call lasted one or two minutes,” said Konzem, who fielded the call that originally had been sent to athletic director Al Bohl’s office, but was redirected because Bohl had been fired earlier in the morning. “I went in to talk to tell coach before lunch.”
Williams, who turned down the North Carolina job in the summer of 2000 but was named the leading candidate three years later following the firing of his former aide, Matt Doherty, quipped to Konzem, “I expected the call.”
Williams spoke to Carolina’s AD Wednesday after talking to former Carolina coach Dean Smith Tuesday night, leading to rampant speculation KU’s coach would be the next Tar Heel coach, perhaps introduced as early as today.
Two Carolina sources told the Winston-Salem Journal Wednesday they expected the Carolina graduate and former Smith aide to become UNC’s coach in the next 24 hours.
“Really, Dick is the only guy who can say anything,” said Smith, referring to the Tar Heel AD, who Wednesday did not speak to reporters.
Williams was not fielding any questions about the Carolina vacancy, only releasing a statement about the firing of KU athletic director Bohl and the naming of interim AD Drue Jennings.
Smith told the Winston-Salem paper he and Williams had a good visit by phone Tuesday after meeting in person Monday night after KU lost to Syracuse, 81-78, in the NCAA title game in New Orleans.
“We commiserated about the game,” Smith said. “We were with his buddies and had a lot of fun despite the loss. At 3 o’clock I left his suite. He called me last night when I got here.”
Carolina media have speculated Smith may have told Baddour to request permission to talk to Williams because Williams gave Smith the word he wanted the UNC job.
Sources in Lawrence, however, believe Williams is again torn between remaining KU coach out of loyalty to his players past and present, and taking over at his alma mater.
Loyalty to players has defined Williams’ 15 years at KU.
“I think coach’s dilemma and decision is very similar to last time,” Konzem said. “Coach expected Matt Doherty to be a 20-year coach at North Carolina. Once he made that decision (in 2000), he thought it was past. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out to be the case.
“Coach didn’t think he’d have to face this again because of the hiring of Matt. I think it goes way beyond who is the AD around here and AD there. His feelings for both programs, quote dream job growing up and feelings for coach Smith versus his program that he has built here, the players he has had go through here, ones still here and ones coming in.
“The same things he weighed last time are the same this time. It’s not about who is the AD or who is the chancellor; it’s about the basketball program. My sense is it is harder this time because, again, he thought Matt would be coach forever and had put it out of his mind.”
Williams has some time issues on his hands this week. He must travel Friday to Los Angeles for Saturday’s Wooden Award ceremony, in which senior Nick Collison is up for player of the year, and Williams will be receiving the Wooden Legends of Coaching Award.
Collison said the Jayhawk players were concerned they might lose their coach.
Sophomore Keith Langford is on the record saying he’d have a decision to make if Williams leaves because “KU isn’t KU without Roy Williams.”
Even lifelong Jayhawk fan Wayne Simien said he had yet to think of a “Plan B” if Williams departed.
“I don’t think it was an issue when we were playing,” Collison said, “because it was all basketball then, but I think people are worried now just like we were three years ago. I don’t have any inside information on the decision. It’s tough to tell people he’s going, but he’s got to make the decision at some point. It’ll be a tough decision either way. We definitely want him to stay, but it’s a tough decision just like three years ago.”
Rumors were rampant Wednesday night that Williams had called a team meeting at Allen Fieldhouse. Other rumors indicated Williams was being flown to North Carolina Wednesday night for a news conference. Both rumors proved false.
Williams had said a decision would be made quicker this time than three years ago.
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Williams on KU interim AD Drue Jennings: “Drue Jennings is an outstanding individual who truly loves the University of Kansas. Drue has given a tremendous amount of his time and energy to the university over the years and this is another example of that. He is a very ethical and organized person and we are lucky to have someone with his integrity to lead the athletic department at this difficult time.”
“I’ve never heard anyone use those words in conjunction with Roy Williams. Ever,” Anderson said. “It reminds me of the cartoon of the soldier who’s out of step. He says, ‘Can you believe that? The whole damn platoon is out of step. The whole platoon’s not in step with the drummer.’
“He’s convinced that everybody else is wrong. His actions now are reflective of some of the problems he’s had before.”
Williams and family — wife, Wanda; and daughter, Kimberly — will be staying at Anderson’s seven-bedroom, 11,800-square-foot Bel-Air home this weekend. Williams is scheduled to arrive Friday and leave Tuesday.
Also scheduled to stay with Andersons: Konzem; Scot Buxton, a friend from Lawrence; and Randy Towner, a friend and head golf professional at Alvamar Country Club.
The friends are scheduled to play golf twice: Saturday at Riviera Country Club and Sunday at Bel-Air Country Club.
Also on the golfing list are Anderson and Cody Plott, a classmate of Williams’ at North Carolina and president and chief operating officer of Pebble Beach Co.
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