Terps coach shines at AT&T
By: Jim Williams
Examiner Sports Columnist
July 3, 2009
Yes, we know that Tiger Woods is in town, but there is another star that attracts attention at the AT&T National. That would be Maryland men’s basketball coach Gary Williams.
Williams, along with Chick Hernandez and the Golf Channel’s Steve Sands, has hosted “Tee Time” every night this week (7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet). The golfers all have wanted to spend time talking to the coach about college basketball while he gets some quality golf information out of them. It has been a winning combination for CSN and is now in its fourth year.
I spoke to Hernandez about the show and his working with Williams and Woods:
What is it about the golfers that draws them to coach Williams?
Most of the players out here are huge sports fans and they love college basketball. So it works out well for us because guys like Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk and Davis Love are just a few who love to come by our set and talk with the coach. We also have a beautiful set overlooking the course and the swimming pool at Congressional and it makes for a very comfortable place for the players to come and talk with us.
Both you and coach Williams seem to have a good relationship with Tiger. How did that come about?
Well, the thing is that we made it clear from day one at CSN that we wanted to help promote and showcase Tiger’s foundation as much as the golf tournament. He has really been great. He loves to talk to coach about college basketball. He and I have had a number of good one-on-one interviews that have talked about how important the work he and his foundation does for the military, not just here in Washington, but all around the world.
Is Tiger as hands on a host as he looks?
Yes. There is no doubt that every aspect of this event has Tiger’s name on it. He has learned from Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, about how they run their tournaments. He realizes that details are important and he loves working in the Washington community with the troops.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
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