Brett Garland/Journal-World Photo IllustrationThe “Roy watch” figures to continue into next week.
Both University of North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour and Kansas University men’s basketball coach Roy Williams on Thursday said that though talks indeed had been initiated by UNC, no head coaching job offer had been presented to the 15th-year Jayhawk coach, who tonight will travel to Los Angeles for weekend Wooden Award ceremonies.
“I’m just trying to live my life,” Williams said Thursday afternoon. “It’s been less than 72 hours since we were in the national championship game. Why would I be so interested in running off somewhere?
“There’s really nothing to say,” Williams added of North Carolina’s pursuit of him to replace former KU assistant Matt Doherty, who resigned under pressure last week.
“Dick Baddour’s statement is all there is to say,” Williams said. “They have not offered me the job. I think he said he’d talk to me again over the weekend. I’ll be in Los Angeles. My guess it’d be Sunday night (when Williams returns to Lawrence) before I’d have a chance to talk to him again.”
Baddour issued a statement Thursday morning designed to stop Internet rumors that indicated Williams soon would become UNC’s next coach.
“I have had several very good conversations with Roy Williams over the last two days. Those talks will continue through the weekend,” Baddour indicated on the statement.
“The Final Four ended just a few days ago. Coach Williams and I feel the timing is too near the end of the Final Four and there is too much going on in Lawrence at this time for us to conclude our talks.
“I have not offered the job to coach Williams, but we have had good conversations that will continue over the next few days. He understands we will continue to proceed with other candidates as well. Typically, I do not comment on job searches,” Baddour continued, “however this is obviously not a typical situation. Coach Williams and I both felt there was so much misinformation out there, that an update to confirm our talks was both responsible and necessary.”
Williams said he wasn’t tormented or suffering inner turmoil about a possible decision as he was in the summer of 2000 when he declined a coaching offer from Carolina.
“How can I be tormented over somebody that hasn’t offered me the job?” Williams said. “I’m not trying to be argumentative, it’s just a fact. They haven’t offered me the job.”
The Winston-Salem Journal in today’s paper quotes unnamed sources as saying no snags are expected and Williams still figures to be named UNC coach next week after this weekend’s Wooden Award ceremonies are complete.
While there appears to be a “done deal” mentality in Carolina, sources in Kansas believe it’s no slam dunk Williams will return to his alma mater. Interim KU athletic director A. Drue Jennings met with Williams for 30 minutes Thursday after reading Baddour’s statement on the Internet.
“You guys (media) have been around coach Williams as much as I have,” Jennings said. “He’s genuine in the heart and soul he puts into that kind of a decision. He absolutely loves the school (KU). This is his program. He didn’t build the tradition, but he sure as heck as embellished it.
“He’s very proud of what he’s been able to accomplish. He loves his players. He is no less endeared to them as he was three years ago when he had to confront those same issues.”
Jennings said he told Williams he hoped he’d return for a 16th season on Mount Oread.
“Absolutely,” Jennings said. “I don’t want to pressure him, but I don’t want him to think he’s unloved, either.”
By now Williams realizes he is loved by his players — individuals who definitely do not want him to leave. He’s held no team meetings about the situation, contrary to Internet reports.
“Optimistic, man,” sophomore Keith Langford said of his mood. “He’s staying, man. We’re going to have a long and prosperous career here and that’s that.”
Why’s Langford so optimistic despite not yet speaking to Williams about the situation? “Because I have no choice but to be. If he didn’t go three years ago, I don’t think he’ll go now.”
6Sports video: Coach Williams cannot decide without offer
Chat transcript with the J-W’s Chuck Woodling and 6News’ Kevin Romary on Roy Williams and Al Bohl