In the stands and on the field, Kansas University basketball coach Roy Williams was a hot topic of conversation Saturday at KU’s spring football scrimmage.
After taking questions from reporters, football coach Mark Mangino made an unsolicited plea for Williams to remain at Kansas rather than accept the coaching job at North Carolina.
“I publicly want to say that I want coach Roy Williams to stay here at KU,” Mangino said at Memorial Stadium following the Jayhawks’ final workout of the spring. “He’s a standard of excellence. He’s someone that’s been very supportive of our football program. I’ve gotten to know him very well. We have a good relationship. He cares about the success of football here. He cares about a lot more things than people think.”
Mangino joined a growing list of KU coaches voicing their support for KU’s longtime basketball coach. After Al Bohl was fired Wednesday as Kansas athletic director, Bohl said all of KU’s sports teams would suffer at the expense of Williams’ basketball program.
Softball coach Tracy Bunge, volleyball coach Ray Bechard and swimming coach Clark Campbell all denied Bohl’s claim and backed Williams that evening.
“I think we all benefit from having Roy Williams here,” Mangino said Saturday.
The football coach was asked if he felt compelled to make a statement because there had been some speculation the coaches were not on good terms.
“It’s in my heart,” said Mangino, who added that he had “no ulterior motive.”
Mangino said he had talked with Williams a few times in the past week.
“I told coach Williams that I do want him to stay,” Mangino said. “The people of Kansas want him to stay, the student body, the University of Kansas. He is a standard of excellence. We strive to run a program like he does. I hope he stays.”
