Retirement "Not a Quick Decision" for Gary Williams

Gary Williams is no stranger to the sound of applause ringing through the court of the Comcast Center. Having led the Terps to a total of 461 wins, not to mention a national title, his 22-year-long career as the University of Maryland's head basketball coach has given fans plenty to cheer for.

But Friday afternoon was different. On Friday, there was no visiting team, no boom from the PA system, no lights on the scoreboard. There was only Williams, and a chanting crowd that filled up an entire section of the stadium's bleachers, just to see him. 

On Thursday, Williams announced his decision to retire from coaching UMd. basketball. At a midday press conference on Friday, he answered the question on everyone's minds: Why?

"This is my decision, but it's not a quick decision," he said."It's been a decision I've thought about for awhile."

Williams said that though he "still could coach," he looks forward to experiencing life off of the court. His coaching career began at age 23.

"Besides the coaching thing, I'm basically unskilled," he said jokingly. "It really feels different. But it's kind of an area I'm looking forward to, where there's no 'set' thing out there yet."

Williams said the thought of retirement had been in the back of his mind since 2002, after the Terps won the National Championship, adding that he would rather leave early than too late.

"It's just a gut feeling," he said. "You see a lot of things when you coach and you don't get the chance to get involved. This is my chance to do some things."

Williams denied that his decision to retire was influenced by Jordan Williams leaving UMd. to join the NBA draft.

Williams will be staying at UMd. as an assistant to Athletic Director Kevin Anderson. He said that though he will help in whatever capacity is asked of him, finding a new coach is not his job. Anderson would not comment on whether he had yet approached anyone to take over the Terps.

Williams is credited with turning around UMd.'s flagging basketball program, which he took over in 1989.

"When the Maryland job did open up, it really wasn't a lot of thought involved for me to come here," he said. "I chose to be here, so I was going to make the best of it."

Williams began his career as a coach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, NJ. He went on to coach at Lafayette College, Boston College, American University and Ohio State before making his way back to his alma mater, UMd.

"This university, I talk a lot about it. But I'm proud to do that," he said. "No place is perfect. But we're a great university."

University President Dr. Wallace Loh announced that he would recommend to the Board of Regents that the basketball court be named after Williams.

Williams said he isn't worried in the slightest for the future of UMd.'s basketball program. He said he has every confidence that a capable coach will succeed him. But as with basketball, keeping the program alive is a team effort, and the whole university community will play a position.

"It's not about supporting a player, it's not about supporting a coach," he said. "It's about supporting the Maryland basketball program. And that's what's been great here."