He had no reason to leave, knowing he could build a powerhouse. But home called. And Gary Williams answered. It was the only job that could have lured Williams away from Ohio State.
It was Maryland, his alma mater. It maintained a strong place in his heart, and that love only grew in the last 22 years. He displayed that passion every time he stood on the sidelines.
Recommended Stories
And that’s why Maryland loved him back. Oh, there were other reasons. There was that national title Williams won in 2002 and the ACC tournament title in 2004 (only Duke and North Carolina have won those since 1996). And the 461 victories.
But it was more than that. Williams saved Maryland basketball. Heck, he was the face of Maryland athletics for a long time, perhaps matched for a spell by football coach Ralph Friedgen.
His energy breathed life into the university and delivered epic games vs. Duke in the early 2000s. He coached with a boulder on his shoulder, with slights real and imaginary.
For Maryland, this is a tough time to lose a coach (wonder whether Jim Larranaga regrets not waiting a month). But maybe for the 66-year-old Williams, he just didn’t have it in him anymore, knowing next season could be a difficult one after losing Jordan Williams to the NBA.
I’ve always liked Williams, having covered him for three years at Ohio State (if they won a big game, I’d be in his office for an hour the next day; lose and he’d reschedule). His practices were a trip. His smart aleck comments were classic. His will to win was obvious. And, dang, could he get a team of nothings to do wondrous things. Actually, he did that at every stop of his career. It was always amazing, too, to see a man who coached with every ounce of his will seem so composed afterward.
But Williams has one more stop: the Hall of Fame. If Maryland was smart, it would name the court after him as well. Williams resurrected the program, returning it to prominence. A new coach can bring more energy, but it’ll be hard to match the past 22 years.
