Our special guest for this March Madness edition of Evergreen News is Gary Williams, Head Basketball Coach for the University of Maryland Terrapins. As Gary prepared to take his team into the 2010 NCAA tournament, Mike Gill spoke with him about his experiences in such a compeitive environment. We hope you’ll enjoy the conversation.
Maryland’s Gary Williams is among the most successful basketball coaches in ACC history. Despite having one of the most animated and volatile sideline presences in college basketball, Williams has never received the full measure of appreciation his accomplishments merit.
Only two coaches in the ACC’s 57 years, North Carolina’s Dean Smith and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, have amassed more victories than Williams’ 202 in ACC competition. Now in his 21st season at College Park, he has 441 wins at Maryland, more than anyone in school history, and 648 career victories through March 11, 25th all-time among Division I coaches.
Williams, who turned 65 on March 4, is among seven ACC coaches who have won a national championship (in 2002) and among seven who have made repeat trips to the Final Four (2001, 2002). His team won an ACC Tournament in 2004, and he led the Terrapins to first-place league finishes in 1995, 2002 and 2010. His Maryland teams have won at least 19 games for 14 consecutive seasons.
Williams’ Maryland team fell just short of completing a comeback attempt against Michigan State which led to a second round exit during this year’s NCAA tournament.