The news of legendary Maryland coach Gary Williams' retirement Thursday invoked a wide range of responses from writers, coaches and administrators throughout college basketball. Here's a sampling of some of my favorites:
Dana O'Neil, ESPN.com: He was the same guy when he stalked the sidelines at Woodrow Wilson High School as he was when he paced the court at Maryland, a fiercely competitive, baldly honest and endlessly passionate basketball coach. And that was it -- a basketball coach, a throwback to an era when coaching meant making good players great instead of babysitting great players for a year or two.Williams was never a salesman or a showman or a pitchman or a charlatan. Just a coach, thank you very much, one who walks away after more than 30 years in the business with one national title and another even more difficult-to-achieve milestone -- no blemishes.
John Feinstein, Washington Post: I know he was worn out by a lot of things: 15 years of battling an athletic director who couldn't stand Williams being the face of Maryland sports; the skepticism of his own fans even after he revived a beleaguered program and delivered its only national championship; the complete cesspool high school recruiting has become; and, finally, his most talented player's misguided decision to turn pro rather than return for his junior season. Gary would never put it on any kid, but I suspect Jordan Williams's departure was the last straw. "I told Joe Smith to go; I told Chris Wilcox to go; I told Steve Francis to go," he said a couple of weeks ago. "They were lock lottery picks. Jordan's not."
Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski: "I love Gary. What he has done for Maryland and for college basketball is remarkable. He is one of the great coaches of all-time. He is a coaches' coach and an ultimate competitor. His retirement is a big loss for the ACC and for college basketball."
Jeff Goodman, FoxSports.com: Sure, Williams missed out on no shortage of the local studs. The list is endless: 'Melo, Rudy Gay, Kevin Durant, Ty Lawson, etc. Instead, Williams brought what many considered mediocre talent to College Park and coached them up. He never sold out, instead developing players and, in doing so, proving himself as one of the truly elite X's and O's guys in the business. "Gary wanted guys that were a better fit for him and the program than the best players in the country," Dickerson said. His Terps won 32 games in 2002 and cut down the nets. The best player on that team, Juan Dixon, isn't even in the NBA.
Jay Bilas, ESPN.com: Once, after a questionable call during an NIT game, Williams told an official that his team was playing in the NIT because it wasn't very good. He then proceeded to tell the ref that he was officiating this game for precisely the same reason. No technical was awarded, and both had a good laugh over the jab. That is Gary Williams. Unless you know him, you might not appreciate the quality of the person. Once you do know him, you cannot miss it.
Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson: "Gary Williams is a legend. His accomplishments on the court have earned him a place among the elite in college basketball history. But Gary's legacy here at Maryland goes far beyond basketball. From his philanthropic efforts to his tireless work with fans and alumni to his impact with our students, Gary has left an indelible mark of excellence on this university."
Mike Wise, Washington Post: Recounted often is how Gary Williams took his alma mater, reeling from tragedy and NCAA probation, to the national title in 2002. What people forget is, he left a very good job at Ohio State to do it, gambling on his future in what many perceived as not a lateral move but an actual step down the coaching ladder. Lefty Driesell's storied program of John Lucas, Buck Williams, Tom McMillen, Len Elmore and Adrian Branch was reduced to rubble after Len Bias, one of the greatest players in the history of college basketball, died in a cocaine overdose on campus less than two days after he was drafted into the NBA. Maryland was floundering after Lefty resigned, and Bob Wade tried to cheat his way back.
Former Maryland athletic director Debbie Yow: "Gary is one of the best X-and-O coaches in college basketball. He will be greatly missed by Terps everywhere. I trust that he will be selected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame soon. Also, his name should be on the Comcast Center floor, as was proposed a year ago."
Mike DeCourcy, SportingNews.com: The 2002 team was symbolic of both Williams' greatest successes and his greatest struggles; it was the only championship team since the first McDonald's All-American came of age to win the title without one of the game's alumni on the roster. The star players ? guards Juan Dixon and Steve Blake, big men Lonny Baxter and Chris Wilcox ? had been undervalued by others in the recruiting process. As the assistants who uncovered those gems became head coaches ? Billy Hahn, Dave Dickerson, Jimmy Patsos ? locating such players became a greater challenge. Recruiting changed, as well, with the rising influence of summer coaches, AAU coaches, club coaches ? whatever you want to call them, Gary didn't. Call them, I mean.
Peter Schmuck, Baltimore Sun: Don't misunderstand. Williams owes no one an apology for his decision to get on with his life at 66 years of age. He owes nothing to the university or its basketball fans, who loved his intensity but probably didn't fully appreciate what it took to run a clean program and compete year after year in the elite Atlantic Coast Conference. It's just hard to imagine an evening of Terrapins basketball without Williams sweating through his suit, and it's even harder to understand how Williams decided to walk away after a season in which the Terps missed the NCAA tournament and were snubbed by the National Invitation Tournament. He always struck me as a go-out-on-top kind of guy.
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