Keeping it Heel Interview with UNC’s Own Ms. Kay

Haley from the MandMsportshow caught up with a legend behind the scenes with North Carolina Basketball.  UNC’s own Ms. Kay Thomas touched the lives of many Tar Heels and her work with the coaches, players and managers deserves the recognition for the years of service helping develop the Carolina Way off the court.  “Ms. Kay” as most of us will refer to her as has acted as mentor, a mother figure when players and managers may have been homesick, to the glue that helped build UNC basketball camps into the large production it became in the summer months.  Keepingitheel.com is proud to give our readers the “K” perspective on basketball, and no folks we are talking about the good K in Chapel Hill as opposed to one often associated with college hoops.

MandMsportshow: When did you work for UNC basketball?

Ms. Kay: I worked for Coach Smith from 1975 until he retired.

MandMsportshow:  What was your role within the basketball program?
Ms. Kay:  I was a secretary in the basketball office. That included a lot of clerical duties, but I was also in charge of organizing The Carolina Basketball School each summer after Mrs. Terrell retired. That is, sending out applications, receiving the completed apps and many other things involved with getting the camp started each year. Of course, I didn’t coach at the camp, but I did some other things behind the scenes during camp. I’m sure you remember a lot of that!!

MandMsportshow:  You have worked with many players who later became Tar Heel assistants specifically Phil Ford. How was it working with Coach Ford as a player and as a Coach?
Ms. Kay: My work with Coach Ford as a player was like any other student-athlete. He was more of a comedian than most. There were a few others with that inclination also. The secretarial staff always wanted to be there for any player. They get homesick and we tried to help them get through that. We wanted them to know they had someone with whom they could talk for any reason. I guess you could call us confidants. I think, sometimes, we were easier to talk to than the coaches. HA!

Working with Coach Ford as a coach was always fun, but also always business. He was an excellent “boss”. Couldn’t ask for a better person either!!

MandMsportshow:  You worked with many assistant coaches over the years, Coach Guthridge the longest. Was there any differences between Coach Smith and coach Guthridge that stood out?
Ms. Kay:  Coach Guthridge was an extension of Coach Smith. Coach Smith was all about x’s and o’s. He was a pleasure to work for also. Coach Guthridge was about x’s and o’s too; however, I also worked closely with him in his role as director of the Carolina Basketball School. My position as administrator of the basketball camp put us working together more closely during the summer. I couldn’t have asked for a better boss and friend.

MandMsportshow:  You were there for many Tar Heel great wins, but is there a specific game or moment(s) that you can share with our readers that may give them a view from inside the program from a different angle?

Ms. Kay: I think the National Championship games were the greatest moments ever. 1982 is special only because it was the first. The 1993 and 2005 were just as exciting. I would love to re-live all three of them!!! Of course any time we beat dook were special times also! Since I was born and raised in Chapel Hill, it was always great to beat any of the “big four” teams. It is great to see smiles instead of frowns or tears after a game. No one else really sees the hurt that is there after a loss. Pictures can’t do it justice.

MandMsportshow:  If there is an aspect of Carolina basketball that you would like to share that we have not discussed?

Ms. Kay:  I always worked closely with the managers during camp and throughout the year. I consider the managers as “MY” managers. No one knows how hard they work and I don’t think the program would work as well without them. They are the hardest working group of people ever!!! I don’t think they get the credit they are due. I still have friendships with many of them and I would not trade that for anything in the world.

I still have friendships with many of the former players also. I feel honored to be able to say that. I try to keep up with many of them and their families. I am very proud of what they have accomplished since their graduation from UNC.

MandMsportshow: Ms. Kay is a piece of the UNC basketball puzzle that makes Coach smith’s legacy so great. He truly built a family atmosphere and I am grateful for the moments I had interacting with Ms. Kay and all the staff that made my experience a little more enjoyable each and every year.

As always you can follow the Haley and MandMsportshow on twitter @MandMSportshow and you can read more articles from Haley at The Water Cooler.