Should Gary be Fired?

[bryanman8]

Although I've been attacked by numerous people in the game thread for suggesting that Gary should be fired, I've been given numerous rep points that indicate a number of other people feel the same way, perhaps they're just not as vocal or don't like posting as much. I wanted to really gauge public opinion on this. Anonymous poll. Should Gary Williams be fired if MD doesn't make a remarkable recovery and make the tourney this year?

[Great 2BA FL Gator]

Gary Williams will never be fired. He took us from nothing, and made us national champs. I think he has room somewhere for another run at a title. I am not one of those that backs Gary on everything, especially his recruiting, or lack there of, but there is no way you could ever fire him.

[EddieO's21]

Gary Williams should not be fired from UMD, barring rules violations or absolutely abismal performances for 10 consecutive years. He brought this school back from the dead and won a national championship (yes a national championship) in 2002.

I am tired of these threads that continually bash GW for losses that shouldn't happen. Guess what, they do, and they will again. Would I like to see a change in GW's recruiting styles, of course. However, GW gets all out of his players and more on the basketball court. He is a staple at this institution and has brought winning as a mentality to College Park.

Those of you who want coaching changes seem to forget this program was once in the dumps, and on the brink of collapsing after violations that embarrassed this university. UMD took a chance on GW coming back and turning this thing around and frankly, I will always take a chance on GW when things are down because he has ALWAYS found a way to rebound in the faces of those who criticize him most.

let me give you some quick stats with UMD

12 NCAA appearances in 18 years, (3 of his misses were in the first 4 years of service, so 12 of the last 14

10 twenty win seasons

national championship

8th winninest coach in the country

7 sweet 16 appearances or better



Please...why should he be fired?? Is he outdated?? There are plenty more statistics of which to choose. Look, the point is, Gary has earned the right to decide for himself when to leave...thats that in my book

[The Rick]

I love the nice gap between give him one more year and gary should never be fired under any circumstances? What kind of crap is that? It either should have been Yes/No, or you could have at least been fair about it. No, I don't think Gary should be fired. But if 5 years from now we've had 5 straight no NIT/No Big dance seasons and finished under .500 overall every year then my mind might start changing. How you go from, give him one more year to he doesn't deserve to ever be fired is beyond me.

[bryanman8]

I love the nice gap between give him one more year and gary should never be fired under any circumstances? What kind of crap is that? It either should have been Yes/No, or you could have at least been fair about it. No, I don't think Gary should be fired. But if 5 years from now we've had 5 straight no NIT/No Big dance seasons and finished under .500 overall every year then my mind might start changing. How you go from, give him one more year to he doesn't deserve to ever be fired is beyond me.

Just make a decision. I already had only one option for "yes" and two options for "no" so that's more than enough to make your voice heard. Believe it or not, most of the people on your side of the spectrum are "Gary gets a free pass for life" people that think he should never be let go under any circumstances. Obviously, if you think Gary deserves another 5 years before this is even talked about, you don't really think Gary's on the hotseat in the slightest. You could say that about every single coach--if in 5 years Roy Williams has UNC in the NITs 3 straight years, maybe you fire him. We're talking about now though. I consider "let's wait and see 5 years from now" the equivalent of "the man is a God and can do no wrong," considering you'd think 3/4 straight years in the NIT would be enough to convince you that he's not getting it done.

[Dr. FLK]

The most disturbing thing about Gary is recruiting. He seemingly puts in no effort. I'm pretty sick and tired of watching local talent leave without so much as a fight from UMD (Ty Lawson, Rudy Gay, Michael Beasely, Kevin Durant, Carmello, Joey Dorsey....). I'm not a huge fan of the flex offense, so for sake of argument let's assume his X's and O's are outstanding. Unfortunately, recruiting is a huge part of his job. And, it's a huge part that he seems to not really care about. His national championship came when two completely unheralded recruits exceeded everyone's expectations. Call it luck if you want. Say Gary "coached 'em up" if you want. Either way is fine.

My point is, he has one of the finest facilities in all of the country. He's located halfway between two basketball hot beds. And, year after year after year, all of the local studs go elsewhere. People like to say that he has good assistants do his recruiting. But, who honestly thinks that today's HS bball players give a darn about Keith Booth and Little Lefty? I know people here love Gary to no end. But, I just cannot stand the fact that intentionally neglects a gigantic portion of his job. He has a pipeline to terrific talent, and he closes it off himself. This year would be too soon to fire him IMO. But, if things don't turn around next year, or the year after, it has to be considered. I just don't see how UMD can watch all of the local talent bring National Championships elsewhere.

[The Rick]

Just make a decision. I already had only one option for "yes" and two options for "no" so that's more than enough to make your voice heard. Believe it or not, most of the people on your side of the spectrum are "Gary gets a free pass for life" people that think he should never be let go under any circumstances. Obviously, if you think Gary deserves another 5 years before this is even talked about, you don't really think Gary's on the hotseat in the slightest. You could say that about every single coach--if in 5 years Roy Williams has UNC in the NITs 3 straight years, maybe you fire him. We're talking about now though. I consider "let's wait and see 5 years from now" the equivalent of "the man is a God and can do no wrong," considering you'd think 3/4 straight years in the NIT would be enough to convince you that he's not getting it done.

I think that more people than myself are in between the free pass for life vote and the 1 more year vote.

Sorry, not everyone is willing to trash a coaching legend, and one who put this program on the map to begin with just over a 4 year stretch of mediocrity. It's not like they've completely tanked yet. Like I said, a few years of losing seasons/no post-season play, I think a lot of people would be on your boat.

I for one don't think anyone gets a pass for life though.

[DuffMan]

I think that more people than myself are in between the free pass for life vote and the 1 more year vote.

Sorry, not everyone is willing to trash a coaching legend, and one who put this program on the map to begin with just over a 4 year stretch of mediocrity. It's not like they've completely tanked yet. Like I said, a few years of losing seasons/no post-season play, I think a lot of people would be on your boat.

I for one don't think anyone gets a pass for life though.

I second this opinion.

[Mackus]

Pass for life is the closest thing to the correct answer.

[grady41]

Go ahead fire him , Kelvin Sampsen is out there, if you want a cheating coach which Gary is not.
Gary should and will be at MD till he decides his time has come. As Chuck and Booth get better at recruiting things will take off, remember Patsos, Hahn and Dickerson left and to a lesser extent Lonagren and the assistant who went to Charlotte, thats caused a hit in recruiting.

[bryanman8]

Go ahead fire him , Kelvin Sampsen is out there, if you want a cheating coach which Gary is not.

Why is the assumption that it's either Gary, or cheating coach?

Why can't we just hire someone else that knows how to coach basketball but actually makes an effort in recruiting and runs a competent offensive system at this point?

[Oriole4Life]

Only if Bernie Bickerstaff is available.

For the love of god no. I have yet to engage in these "Gary getting fired" discussions because personally I think they are ludicrous. Look at the success he has brought us. I can understand people's frustration, but it is not all Gary' fault. I'll admit that if we make the NIT 5 years in a row(as someone said), then we need to take a look at a coaching change. But now, no.

[bryanman8]

Only if Bernie Bickerstaff is available.

For the love of god no. I have yet to engage in these "Gary getting fired" discussions because personally I think they are ludicrous. Look at the success he has brought us. I can understand people's frustration, but it is not all Gary' fault. I'll admit that if we make the NIT 5 years in a row(as someone said), then we need to take a look at a coaching change. But now, no.

How's 4 out of 5 for ya? (which would be next year)

A lot of you make it sound like that things could be far worse. They really can't. This is going to be the 3rd year out of 4 that a program with as much prestige, great facilities, great talent in the area, as MD is going to the NITs. I think things are going to be even worse next year, making it 4/5. So, we really need to wait another 3 years after that for it to be 2 NIT-1 NCAA-5 NIT for you to think firing Gary is acceptable?

Really, if you look at this objectively, you'll see that Gary has fast approached the area that should be completely unacceptable no matter how much he's done for this program in the past.

[square634]

How's 4 out of 5 for ya? (which would be next year)

A lot of you make it sound like that things could be far worse. They really can't. This is going to be the 3rd year out of 4 that a program with as much prestige, great facilities, great talent in the area, as MD is going to the NITs. I think things are going to be even worse next year, making it 4/5. So, we really need to wait another 3 years after that for it to be 2 NIT-1 NCAA-5 NIT for you to think firing Gary is acceptable?

Really, if you look at this objectively, you'll see that Gary has fast approached the area that should be completely unacceptable no matter how much he's done for this program in the past.

You act as if it is already sealed that we will be in the NIT...

[Sports Guy]

Why is the assumption that it's either Gary, or cheating coach?

Why can't we just hire someone else that knows how to coach basketball but actually makes an effort in recruiting and runs a competent offensive system at this point?

Coach K doesn't do the recruiting....A lot of coaches don't.

Not sure if this is what you mean or not but if it is, you need to get your facts straight.