Before I came to Morgantown to be a Mountaineer, before I knew Huggstown and before knowing "Country Roads," there was Maryland basketball and Garyland for me. For as long as I can remember I watched, and still do watch Maryland basketball. From all of the heartbreaking losses, to the 2002 National Championship, I remember them all. And all of this was due to head coach Gary Williams. Now after 22 years, at Maryland, Gary Williams has decided to hang it up after a hall of fame career. But what Gary should be remembered for the most was he did it his way, no matter what.
The numbers, by themselves, say it all. 661 wins with 461of those wins coming at Maryland. Those 461 wins were good enough to be the 3rd all time winningest coach in the ACC, only behind Dean Smith and Coach K. 14 NCAA tournaments, 7 sweet sixteens, 2 elite eights, 2 final fours, 3 regular season ACC championships, 1 ACC tournament championship and of course 1 national championship. In the past 12 years, Maryland is 2nd in the ACC in total wins only behind Duke. But when it comes to Gary Williams it's not all about the numbers.
Gary Williams came to Maryland, in 1989, when Maryland was facing multiple NCAA sanctions. Gary overcame those sanctions and within 4 years the Terps were back in the NCAA tournament and started a run of 10 straight NCAA tournaments. Gary always took heat, from the media, for is recruiting tactics. From letting multiple in state talent go out of state to not going after all of the 5 star recruits. Gary heard it all from the media. Despite the heat form the media Gary continued to recruit his way by only going after the players that would want to play for him, even if they weren't the top rated kids in the country. And from judging from the numbers stated above Gary's way worked and worked well.
Not only did Gary do it is way, but he did it his way by respecting the game and the University of Maryland. Gary always did it clean as he was never investigated for recruiting violations, which is very rare with college coaches today. Not only did Gary love his players but he loved everything about the University of Maryland. His signature fist pump to the student section always fired them up and was very active in on campus and charity activities. Despite what is now a heated rivalry between Duke, Gary became very close friends with Coach K and other rivals throughout the ACC. Overall Gary was a down to earth guy to everyone in the community, also another rarity in today's coaches.
For me it was Gary Williams that started my love for college basketball. Gary was so passionate that he never asked for a seat to be reserved on the Terps bench. Gary was always standing coaching and cursing out the officials for 40 minutes every game. Even in blowout games Gary would be seen yelling at player if he missed an assignment. I thought that type of passion was so cool. And his players showed that type of passion on the court to. Every game you would see someone in a red and white jersey diving after a ball, giving up a charge, out hustling others for a rebound. I will never forget my first Maryland game, seeing 18,000 fans at a college basketball game gave me goosebumps. And without Gary maybe one of the nicest of facilities in all of college basketball would not have been built. Gary will now become an assistant in the athletic department and rightfully so the court in the Comcast Center will have his name on it. Lastly thank you Gary Williams for all the memories, technical fouls and laughs. Enjoy retirement, continue to do it your way and once again you will be truly missed.
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