Gary Williams on Senior Associate AD Kathy Worthington

[Todd-O]

Gary: "Kathy Worthington doesn't speak for me. She has never won a national championship. She has never done anything. She is an Associate AD." - Washington Post, 1-28-09

You know, Gary: You are arrogant... no doubt... but your inflated self-worth is pathetic. Get over yourself. It's not as if you assembled a team that cured cancer. You are a coach of a college team. Period. Not that coaching can't be a very impactful or rewarding endeavor. It can be. But get over yourself. h

What Williams fails to realize are two truths about coaching: Coaching is more about the NOW than it is about the PAST... especially when the past is becoming a distant memory. Secondarily, great coaches that come to the end of their career maintain respect through grace... not tantrums and back-handed quips.

I think Williams' act is getting old... but he's actually making it worse.

[Avsfan]

I love some GW....but that's just stupid to say.

I love GW think he's in the 2nd tier of coaches in america, with his tenure pushing him towards the top of that list....but he's no Calhoun or Roy Williams (or other few)

[bryanman8]

What is the context of that? Why is he mad at her?

[section18]

I would bet that Gary is asked to apologize for his comments about Kathy Worthington. He should not have to be asked he should just do it. Hopefully he already has called her and said he was upset after the loss and didn't use good judgment with his comments. Things are going to get worse unfortunately and I don't think Gary's pride and ego will be able to cope with losing. I sometimes think I have ESP and my crystal ball says he will resign before the season is over and either Chuck or Jay will be interim coach for the remainder of the season. Good luck Gary.

[Guest Sailor Jerry]

I'm not saying Gary is the easiest guy to work for, but an associate AD calling up the Sun and throwing a coach who saved your sorry arse athletic program under the bus is garbage. Debbie Yow and Kathy Worthington should be ashamed of the way they're handling this. Gary has earned the right to go whenever he darn well feels like it. I'm not all that happy about the way things are either, 20 years ago there wasn't anything sports wise at College Park that was worth crap. Gary changed that.

[Ruzious]

What is the context of that? Why is he mad at her?

I'm glad someone had the brains to ask that question - before ripping Gary. See Jerry's post - and this subject was already discussed in depth in Tony's thread.

[Todd-O]

There is no context where a professional should talk about another professional like this in the media.

[Three Run Homer]

Gary lost his cool when discussing Kathy Worthington, but in truth, Worthington's comments to the media were uncalled for and Gary had every right to be angry about them. Gary's original comments about recruits were a lame attempt to shift blame for this sorry team away from himself, but he did not put blame on the athletic department. The athletic department should have let it go.

Unfortunately, I think Debbie Yow saw Gary's remarks as an opportunity to make Williams look bad to further her own agenda of getting rid of him.

[Lucky Jim]

Gary needs to step back. Comments like this:

On Tuesday night, Williams - standing in Maryland's wood-paneled locker room after the Terps' loss to Boston College - seemed perplexed why Worthington had reached out to the media.

"Were you summoned to the athletic director's office?" Williams asked two reporters as other media members rushed to listen to the coach. "Why would they call you? What was the reason? Because of what was in the paper today?"

Williams said he didn't understand why athletic director Debbie Yow wasn't handling the matter instead of Worthington, who he said "has never won a national championship" as Williams did in 2002.

"Why doesn't the athletic director do that? Does that appear strange?" he said.

Look bad in light of this:

Yow is in North Carolina to attend the funeral of her sister, former North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow.

[Miller192]

I honestly don't see how Gary survives this, I'm sure he knows that by now.

[Three Run Homer]

I honestly don't see how Gary survives this, I'm sure he knows that by now.

Keeping Gary might not be the best thing for the program...but rewarding Debbie Yow for stabbing Gary in the back would be much, much worse in my opinion.

[Guest Sailor Jerry]

No one for one single solitary second thinks Kathy Worthington says a single word to anyone with pen and paper without Debbie Yow's blessing, right?

[Lucky Jim]

No one for one single solitary second thinks Kathy Worthington says a single word to anyone with pen and paper without Debbie Yow's blessing, right?

I agree. I think he's being manipulated into being boorish. But nonetheless, asking why Debbie Yow didn't respond herself when she's at her sister's funeral is beyond idiotic. Right or wrong, it paints him in a poor light, to say the least.

[Guest Sailor Jerry]

No it doesn't. It rightfully asks what kind of operation Yow is running. Why is she letting her underlings show up her breadwinner? Why doesn't she just tell Worthington to STFU until she gets back into town?

[Lucky Jim]

No it doesn't. It rightfully asks what kind of operation Yow is running. Why is she letting her underlings show up her breadwinner? Why doesn't she just tell Worthington to STFU until she gets back into town?

Whatever. If you think having your basketball coach asking the press why he's not getting personally dealt with by the AD while she's out of town at her sister's funeral will prompt the public to think Yow = bad, Gary = sensitive...well, great.

I think it's pretty clear where on the spectrum of allegiance you reside. No one in their right mind would think that it's a good public relations strategy for a middle-aged man to get snippy with a woman who is attending her sister's funeral.

It's a stupid, stupid move. I'm not sure how you don't see that. But you don't, so no use arguing it.