Maryland pulled off the two-fer – it’ll name the floor at the Comcast Center after recently retired coach Gary Williams and honor ex-coach Lefty Driesell as well.
That, dear reader, is how you appease your fan base.
(Well, except for those who’ll want the school to highlight women’s coach Brenda Frese when she retires. But that’s a problem for another athletic director…)
ANYWAY, once Maryland figured out how to honor former coach Lefty Driesell – the Baltimore Sun says something’s in the works, but no word what is it yet – naming the floor after Williams was a lock. AD Kevin Anderson and school president Wallace Loh simply had to get the OK from the Williams “Brit” Kirwan, the big cheese in the Maryland university system.
Williams, who still works for the school, issued a statement declaring his appreciation for the event, which’ll happen on Dec. 9. That’ll certainly be a big day for Williams, who led the Terps to their only national title in 2002, is the school’s all-time wins leader and an alum.“Gary has been a faithful alumnus, a highly successful and iconic figure in men’s college basketball across the nation, a fierce competitor, and a tireless fundraiser on behalf of student scholarships,” Loh said in a statement. “He has been the face of Maryland men’s basketball for more than 22 years. Gary led the Terps out of historic Cole Field House into the Comcast Center.
“I can think of no better way to recognize his success and his contributions to the University of Maryland than by naming the floor of the basketball court in Comcast Center in his honor.”
The first game played on Gary Williams Court will be Dec. 14 vs. Florida International.
Related stories:
- Who else is in line to be honored with “____” Court?
- Terps still need a little bit of Williams’ magic
- Maryland AD went commercial in his coaching search
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