Roy Williams didn’t like the overnight reviews of his departure from Kansas University.
“Fifteen years of the greatest years of Kansas basketball, and yet this morning I’m the bad guy,” Williams said to the Associated Press Tuesday, speaking in Chapel Hill, N.C., where late Monday night he was introduced as North Carolina’s basketball coach.
Williams faced criticism from current players, columnists and even former Jayhawk Scot Pollard, unhappy with his former coach’s decision to move on.
“I was proud of the fact when people thought of Kansas they thought of Roy Williams,” Williams said. “I liked that feeling. What nobody understands except maybe Larry Brown (former KU coach and Carolina grad) is the people in Kansas have no idea what North Carolina has and the people in North Carolina have no idea what Kansas has. If you are in one scenario you just think what you have is so much better than what the other guy has.”
What KU has left in the basketball office is former KU assistant Ben Miller, plus former KU players and current administrative aides Jerod Haase and C.B. McGrath.
Miller spoke to Williams Tuesday morning.
“Coach called to check on the players, see how they were doing,” Miller said. “He was very emotional on the phone. They are lining the streets to welcome him home (in Chapel Hill), and he hasn’t enjoyed it a bit. It’s sad he is not able to enjoy a happier time. It’s just killing him.”
Miller said he felt bad for his former boss.
“He’s given everything he could — sweat and blood — for 15 years in an era when guys jump (jobs) every two or three years for more money,” Miller said. “Coach had the hardest day of his life yesterday and made the decision he felt was the right thing to do for himself and his family. I can’t see how people don’t understand that.
“Obviously there are some hurt feelings and pain from our players, former players and our recruits. I told coach it’s because they love him and miss him. If they didn’t love him, they wouldn’t care.”
Miller said it was wrong to say Williams does not care about the current players as much as ones three years ago, when he made the decision to stay at KU out of loyalty.
“He loves Kansas, all the players today as much as any year,” Miller said. “And I know the players love him. There is not a coach in America who cares more about people, more about his players than Roy Williams. He’s given more time to players, fans, signs more autographs than anybody.
“Outside of his own family, nothing is more important to him than those kids on his team and who have been in his program.”
Williams appears to have made a mistake in not phoning his four signees Monday. Pete Padgett, the father of KU signee David Padgett, was especially critical of Williams for making the family find out about his decision through the media. Apparently the recruits were all contacted by late Monday night; assistant Steve Robinson called J.R. Giddens’ family.
“I know coach tried,” Miller said. “He did the best he could to try. Coach is human. He tried to do the best under difficult circumstances. He’d love to visit with every current player, every former player. In reality sometimes it’s difficult to do.”
Haase also supported his former coach.
“For any of the fans that are bitter or angry at coach, I hope they realize what he’s given to Kansas and he’s left this program in such great shape and I have nothing but fondness for the guy,” Haase said.
Haase said KU basketball will survive Williams’ departure.
“I think this is an anxious situation,” Haase said. “I would not say we’re in a crisis right now. I think they’ll hire a great basketball coach and I think they’ll get a great athletic director. I think Kansas will move forward in a big way.
“It’s a big institution. The basketball program is in great shape and I think they’ll move forward in great fashion.”
Haase, a fan favorite and one of Williams’ favorite players at KU, said he understood players were hurt but was glad they decided to stick together and play for a new coach.
“I think they should stay together as a team. I also think they should have a say in the next coach,” he said.
Of his own future, Haase would love to continue in college basketball. He does not know if it’ll be at KU, North Carolina or elsewhere.
“It’s all in the air right now,” he said. “We’ll kind of feel our way through this. When coach comes back we’ll sit down and talk about things and evaluate my life and family.”
Haase said he would be happy to continue working with the Jayhawks until a new coach was hired.
“I certainly have no problem in being a liaison between the administration and players,” he said. “I am a Jayhawk. I love the school, players, the program.”
Former player Jeff Boschee, who has been an intern in the hoops office this semester, remains close with the players.
“They are hurting right now,” he said. “Words can’t express how they feel. I don’t think anything anyone can say would help them out. I hope these guys stick together and the recruits come on and continue the tradition of Kansas with a new coach.
“This is going to be on the minds of everybody for quite a while,” Boschee said, “at least until the start of next basketball season.”
