Roy Williams: More Than Just a Basketball Coach

In the past I've been very critical of Roy Williams. On many occasions over the years I've pointed out strategic errors and lineup mistakes he made that cost UNC basketball games. While many of the things I said had some validity, I wasn't seeing the whole picture clearly. I wanted Roy out as coach as soon as possible, and I wanted the Boston Celtic's (then Butler) coach Brad Stevens, Wichita State's Gregg Marshall, or Villanova's Jay Wright to take his place. 

I've since changed my tune, and it's not just because Coach Williams once again has OUR Tar Heels playing for another National Championship. A change in myself has allowed me to truly see Roy Williams' contribution to the University, its basketball players, and the world from a much different perspective.

Roy Williams is a teacher. He's a developer of men, and he has a huge impact on the world. When I watched the players' senior speeches, particular Marcus Paige's, I fully realized the value of this man I'd directed way too much negative energy towards in the past.

Marcus Paige is a thoughtful young man who poured his heart out to his Hall of Fame coach, giving him tons of credit for all the words of wisdom and life lessons he'd passed down during Paige's four-year career. Roy Williams had clearly helped Marcus get to a much better place mentally than the point I found myself at his age, and I felt compelled to write a sort of apology and acknowledgment letter in his honor.

Marcus Paige's Senior Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95h6bjoyOks

My Mental State at the Time

I'm an extreme competitor and I hate losing. When I wrote those harsh criticisms of Roy Williams several years ago, I was going through a tough period in my life. I was angry, and I was subconsciously looking at everything from a very negative point of view. I was also searching for any way to make myself feel better, and pointing out the shortcomings in a person held in high regard was something I guess I thought would do that. Call it depression, call it hate. Whatever tag you want to place on it doesn't really tell the story.

One of those articles several years ago (More on Bleacher Report)
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1523288-north-carolina-basketball-a-plea-to-roy-williams

I see this same mentality in a large segment of this country's population. It's extremely destructive, and it's leading us and the rest of the world down a dark path. This kind of outlook and behavior is a cry for help, a sign that things are not right in a person's life. We must seek to improve in this area, and we need to make it a priority now.

As we inch closer to this year's Presidential election, it's become clear that it's a battle between differing mental states. Bernie Sanders represents love, understanding, and caring for all human beings, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz pure hate, discrimination, and selfish greed, and Hillary Clinton the middle-dwelling pawn willing to say whatever it takes to win and continue the status quo. It's a time where we need to understand just how similar we all are, and come together for the common good with a leader who has EVERYONE's best interests at heart.

I realize now that Roy Williams is the kind of leader that puts caring for ALL of his players and their well-being ahead of everything, and sometimes winning takes a backseat. As a cutthroat competitor this will always drive me a little crazy, but I've gained a much better appreciation for the things Coach Williams does extremely well and the huge impact he has on other people's lives.

Ironically 'Ol Roy will lead the Tar Heels against Jay Wright and Villanova in an attempt to win his 3^rd National Championship tonight. While I still disagree with some of his basketball decisions from time-to-time, he's got this UNC team playing at its best entering the last game of the season. Win or lose, Coach Williams has done an amazing job preparing his players for something much more important than basketball.

At a time when my home state (and country) seems determined to divide its population, spread hate and discrimination, and stir up negativity at an alarming rate, I urge you to really think about what you stand for and what kind of world you want to live in. Go out and use your unique gifts to leave an impact on the world, and try to make it one that lifts other people up and makes the world a better place. Roy Williams certainly does.

Roy Williams' Senior Night Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oWu5T_rg5w