Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Who follows Roy Williams?

By Brandon Griffin

Mar 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams cuts down the nets after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the championship game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Carolina won 88-74. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams cuts down the nets after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the championship game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Carolina won 88-74. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Two weeks.

Honestly I thought 14 days would be enough time. Truthfully I would’ve guessed 48 hours tops. Yet here I am 336 hours after Kris Jenkins sunk that dagger at the buzzer and the thought of that game still haunts me.

The reality of the situation sank in just a couple of days ago. I was standing in the grocery store looking at pastries when this old man walked up to me. I had never met this man before but he noticed I was wearing the Heels championship shirt from 2009. “4.7 seconds.”

At first I thought he was talking about how fast I was grabbing things (I am not a stand still shopper), but then he said it again. “4.7 seconds and we would’ve had another one.” And like one of Pavlov’s dogs hearing a bell, I went into my spiel about how heart breaking that game was.

I would mention how I stopped watching when they went up by ten because Villanova’s defense was so good. How I checked my phone and when we got it to three with a minute or so left I let myself turn back to the game. I talked about how much more amazing Paige’s shot was than Jenkins, and how unfair it would forever be lost in the annals of history because it didn’t win the game. I explained how I would’ve rather Paige missed the shot and Carolina lost by five, at least that I could get over. Or if the defense forced Arcidiacono to pass the ball earlier resulting in a half court shot.

The truth is I may never get over that game. And it’s ok, that’s what real fans do. I still haven’t gotten over the fact that the 49ers didnt run the ball from the five yard line in the Super Bowl, and that took place four years ago. Of course, I don’t have to get over that game, but I do have to move forward, as does the Carolina Basketball team.

That leads me to Roy Williams.

The coach of the embattled Tar Heels has said he plans to coach another 5-9 seasons and wont leave the University during a crisis. That means he will be the coach this season and if the basketball program does get hit with any sanctions he will stay on through them as well. But what happens in five seasons or so and it is time to step down and pass the reigns off to someone else? Who should the Heels be looking at? I think their are three avenues they could go down.

The Dean Smith Way

In 1988 Phil Ford came back to coach at UNC.

Five seasons later the Heels won a National Championship. It is no secret that Dean had always planned on Ford, one of his favorite players, to take over as Head Coach of the Tar Heels. Unfortunately, due to some inner Demons, Ford was never ready, either in 93, when I believe Dean really wanted to step down, nor in 97 when he finally did. This led to Bill Guthridge to take over for three years. I again believe this was to give Ford time. It never happened, Guthridge stepped down, and Matt Doherty took over.

As has been well publicized, Roy Williams believes in the Dean way. I believe this is why four years ago he hired Hubert Davis to be his assistant coach when Jerod Haase left for UAB. Just like his mentor, Roy Williams was bringing on his eventual replacement. As long as Roy Williams doesn’t leave early, and I believe he might have had the Heels won two weeks ago, Davis should be ready to take over. And if Roy Williams does leave early, he also has a Bill Guthridge in place with Steve Robinson.

The Carolina Way

Feb 4, 2016; Birmingham, AL, USA; UAB Blazers head coach Jerod Haase during the game against Florida International Golden Panthers at Bartow Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2016; Birmingham, AL, USA; UAB Blazers head coach Jerod Haase during the game against Florida International Golden Panthers at Bartow Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Of course Bubba Cunningham may decide to step outside of the current staff. The Carolina way is what led Carolina to Matt Doherty and then finally Roy Williams. One option here would be King Rice. Though he is only 79-85 in five seasons at Monmouth, he is 46-23 the last two. The former guard has yet to play in the NCAA tournament but is the top candidate from former UNC players.

However, the best candidate in this category, is a Carolina guy by graft. Jerod Haase, a former Kansas player (former Jayhawks have been good to the Heels), did coach under Roy Williams for 12 seasons, nine at Carolina. At UAB, Haase went 80-53 and pulled a huge upset win over Iowa State in the Big Dance last year. He just took the Stanford job and if he can win there, in five years he will be a very hot candidate and probably a great fit for the Heels.

The Other Way

There is one last way, to pick a coach with no Carolina ties. I know this is crazy, but a coach to keep an eye on is Shaka Smart. The current Texas coach is 183-69 in seven seasons with six trips to the tournament. He even made the final four back in 2011. In five years he will have been at Texas for six years and if he keeps winning, would probably only be interested in leaving Austin for the Pros or a Blue Blood school, which Carolina thankfully is.

As much as I love UNC basketball I actually think this is the best way. Out of the family tree members, I think Haase is the best option particularly if he succeeds at Stanford when Dawkins couldn’t. Smart wins wherever he goes and guess what, Dean wasn’t a Carolina guy. Coach Smith went to Kansas. He became a Tar Heel and so can Smart. Thankfully this is all hypothetical, but getting an idea of where we are going one day is never a bad idea. Anyone of these guys would be a great addition to the UNC lore, but honestly I think Shaka Smart is the best choice if UNC wants to stay at the top, a place all Heel fans want to be.

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