With his fiery coaching style, Gary Williams has made his fair share of enemies in 30 years as a head coach. But after earning his 600th career win Wednesday, it?s apparent he?s made some friends, too.
“It?s just another step. Hopefully he gets 700,” Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos said of the man he coached alongside for 13 years. “I see him getting 700. Hopefully, this is just another step to putting his name on that court.”
Williams improved to 600-336 after the Terrapins defeated Boston College, 70-65, in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The win avenged the Terrapins? Atlantic Coast Conference-opening loss to the Eagles in December, and marked Maryland?s ninth win in its past 11 games.
Williams began his career at American, but won 76 games and made his first two NCAA Tournament appearances at Boston College. Of the 600 wins, 393 have come at Maryland, where he?s recorded 20-win seasons 16 times, including the 2001-02 season, which was capped by a national title.
Rick Barnes has won 436 games and built a national power at Texas, but spent one year early in his career as an assistant on Williams? staff at Ohio State.
“He has done as good a job as anyone at getting the most out of his players throughout his career,” Barnes said. “Trust me, there?s a lot of wins left in the bag for Gary Williams.”
Williams is the second, Division I head coach this season to reach career win 600. Bob Huggins, who is in his first season at West Virginia, earned No. 600 with a 77-54 win over Canisius in December.
“It means I?m old,” Huggins, 54, said after the game. “It?s a wonderful tribute to the wonderful guys I?ve had over the years.”
Like Huggins, Williams, 62, earned No. 600 at his alma mater. Williams played guard for Maryland from 1965-67.
Williams has spent 19 seasons in the ACC. He battled Towson?s Pat Kennedy for 11 seasons ?1986-97 ? when Kennedy coached Florida State. Kennedy, who is 458-380 entering Saturday?s game at Drexel, is 5-9 all-time against the Terrapins.
“He is one of the outstanding coaches, and in my opinion, is a Hall of Fame-level basketball coach,” Kennedy said. “He has won at every level, and is a great guy to boot, and all of us are very happy for Gary.”
Williams said Tuesday he?d reflect after the season. Now, he?s busy trying to direct his young Terrapins to a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year.
But after the win Wednesday, Williams gave a brief reaction.
“It?s 30 years as a head coach,” Williams said to reporters Wednesday night. “That?s a long chunk out of your life.”
A coaching tree grows
» RANDY AYERS: Assisted Williams at Ohio State. Former Ohio State and Philadelphia 76ers head coach is an assistant with the Washington Wizards
» RICK BARNES: Assisted Williams at Ohio State. Former head coach at George Mason, Providence and Clemson is head coach at Texas.
» JIM CLEAMONS: Assisted Williams at Ohio State. Former head coach with Youngstown State and Dallas Mavericks. He is an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers.
» DAVE DICKERSON: Williams? assistant for nine years at Maryland. He is the head coach at Tulane.
» FRAN FRASCHILLA: Assisted Williams for two seasons at Ohio State. Former head coach at Manhattan, St. John?s and New Mexico is now an ESPN analyst.
» BILLY HAHN: Williams? assistant for 12 years at Maryland. Former head coach at Ohio and La Salle. He is anassistant at West Virginia.
» CHRIS KNOCHE: Williams?s assistant at American. Former head coach at American, is Terps? radio analyst.
» JIM LONERGAN: Assisted Williams for one year at Maryland. Former head coach at Catholic, he is the head coach at Vermont.
» JIMMY PATSOS: Williams? assistant for 13 years at Maryland. He is the head coach at Loyola.
» ED TAPSCOTT: Assisted Williams at American. Former executive with N.Y. Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats. He is the director of player development for Washington Wizards.
? Associated Press contributed to this story.
