Some head coaches are synonymous with the schools in which they coach. Jim Calhoun and UConn, Coach K and Duke, Tom Izzo and Michigan State, Jim Boeheim and Syracuse, and Gary Williams and Maryland come to mind. After 22 seasons in College Park, Williams has decided to remove his name from that list…
Gary Williams considered retiring after Maryland stunned Duke and the rest of the ACC in 2010 to earn a share of the conference regular-season title.
But the competitor in Williams saw another challenge, trying to coach the Terrapins up after losing his senior starting backcourt of Greivis Vasquez and Eric Hayes.
The Terps weren’t able to reach the postseason this past March, finishing in the middle of the ACC.
As late as early evening Wednesday, Williams was talking about big men he had to replace, like sophomore Jordan Williams, who had decided to remain in the NBA draft.
But in a stunning move, Williams announced Thursday he is retiring. A news conference will be held at 1 p.m. ET Friday at the Comcast Center, a building that is a testament to the program he built.
The drive and fire that had defined Williams throughout his 33 years as a coach at American University, Boston College, Ohio State, and the last 22 at his alma mater at Maryland, has diminished, he said. He added that his health is fine and was not a part of his decision.
“I just want to do other things,” Williams told ESPN.com Thursday afternoon. “I’m 66. How many other coaches are coaching beyond 66? Maybe only [Connecticut’s] Jim Calhoun and [Syracuse’s] Jim Boeheim. You get to be a certain age and I know I can do other things.”
Read more about Williams’ decision to step down at ESPN.com.
