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We’re taking a look at the reasons behind Roy Williams’ departure from Kansas, and what it could mean for the Jayhawks moving forward.
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Roy Williams’ Early Life and Career
Roy Williams was born in Marion, South Carolina, on August 1, 1950. He played basketball at the University of North Carolina and was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the 1972 NBA draft. Williams became head coach of the University of Kansas men’s basketball team in 1988. He led the Jayhawks to four NCAA tournament appearances and two Final Fours in his five seasons at Kansas. Williams left Kansas to become head coach of the University of North Carolina in 2003.
Roy Williams’ Early Life
Roy Williams was born in Marion, North Carolina, on August 1, 1950, the second of three children. His father, Clifford, coached high school basketball for 36 years. Roy played basketball and baseball as a youngster and was selected to play in an all-star game in both sports as a high school senior.
While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Williams worked as a Tar Heels ball boy. He competed on Dean Smith’s junior varsity basketball team before he was promoted to the varsity squad during his sophomore year. Williams graduated from UNC with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1972.
Roy Williams’ College Career
Roy Williams was born in Marion, North Carolina, and attended high school in nearby Robbinsville. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he won two national championships as a player under legendary head coach Dean Smith. After graduation, Williams became an assistant coach at UNC under Smith. When Smith retired in 1997, Williams took over as head coach and led the Tar Heels to three more national titles in 2005, 2009, and 2017.
In April 2003, Williams left UNC to become the head coach of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. However, he returned to Chapel Hill just two months later.
In April 2010, after 13 years as UNC’s head coach, Williams announced that he was retiring from coaching. However, he came out of retirement less than two weeks later to take over as head coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets (now the Charlotte Hornets Expansion).
Williams has said that his decision to leave Kansas for North Carolina was driven by a desire to be closer to his family. His father had been diagnosed with cancer, and his mother had suffered a stroke.
Roy Williams’ Time at Kansas
Roy Williams’ First Season at Kansas
In his first season as head coach, Roy Williams led the Jayhawks to a 27-3 record and a share of the Big Eight conference title. The team also made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to eventual national champion Indiana. Williams was named Big Eight Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year by several publications.
Roy Williams’ Second Season at Kansas
After a losing season in his first year at Kansas, Roy Williams and the Jayhawks rebounded in 2001-2002. They went 27-8 on the year and won the Big 12 regular season title. They were seeded first in the NCAA tournament but lost to eventual national champion Maryland in the Elite Eight.
The Jayhawks went on to win the next two conference titles, but once again they were unable to advance past the Elite Eight, losing to Syracuse in 2003 and Marquette in 2004.
Despite the team’s success, Williams was not happy at Kansas. He was rumored to be interested in returning to his alma mater, North Carolina, which had fired its previous head coach Matt Doherty after just three seasons. When North Carolina finally did offer him the job, Williams accepted it; he would return to Chapel Hill just two weeks after Kansas’ loss to Marquette in 2004.
Roy Williams’ Third Season at Kansas
After leading the Jayhawks to a number-one ranking and a 27–3 record in his third season, Roy Williams was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. The Jayhawks went on to lose to Syracuse in the Elite Eight.
Roy Williams’ Departure from Kansas
After 15 seasons, Roy Williams announced his departure from Kansas on April 4th, 2003. Citing a “lack of passion” for the game, Williams shocked the college basketball world by leaving one of the premier programs in the country. So, what exactly led to Williams’ departure from Kansas?
The Reasons for Roy Williams’ Departure
In the summer of 2002, after leading the Kansas Jayhawks to their first national championship in over three decades, head coach Roy Williams announced his decision to leave Kansas for his alma mater, the University of North Carolina.
While Williams’ departure came as a surprise to many, those close to the situation say that there were a number of factors that led to his decision. First and foremost among these was Williams’ desire to be closer to his family, who still lived in North Carolina.
In addition, Williams was reportedly unhappy with the direction of the Kansas program under athletic director Lew Perkins. According to some accounts, Perkins had begun micromanaging the Jayhawks’ basketball program in an effort to increase its profit margin. This clashed with Williams’ preference for a more hands-off approach, and ultimately led to tension between the two men.
Finally, it is believed that UNC offered Williams a significantly higher salary than he was making at Kansas. While exact figures have never been released, it is rumored that UNC tripled Williams’ annual salary, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.
While there are many reasons why Roy Williams decided to leave Kansas for North Carolina, these are believed to be the most significant factors in his decision.
The Aftermath of Roy Williams’ Departure
In the wake of Roy Williams’ departure from Kansas, many Jayhawk fans were left wondering what could have caused such a talented coach to leave his alma mater. While there are many theories, the most likely explanation is that Williams was simply not comfortable with the level of support he was receiving from the Kansas administration.
Throughout his tenure at Kansas, Williams had been vocal about his frustrations with the school’s lack of commitment to basketball. He was often critical of the university’s decision to focus on football, and he felt that his program was not being given the resources it needed to be successful. In the end, it seems that those frustrations led Williams to believe that he would be better off coaching elsewhere.
Interestingly, Williams’ departure also had a significant impact on Kansas football. After Williams left, many top recruits decided to follow him to North Carolina. This had a ripple effect that resulted in Kansas football falling significantly in the national rankings.
So while there are many reasons why Roy Williams decided to leave Kansas, it seems clear that his decision was based primarily on his feeling that he was not being supported in the way he needed to be.
