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LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Roy Williams told the Kansas Jayhawks he is leaving to coach North Carolina, his beloved alma mater, according to players who attended a meeting with him Monday.
The decision comes three years after Williams rejected an offer to take over the Tar Heels' storied basketball program, where he learned his craft as an assistant under Dean Smith.
"It's sad for the program and the players who are here," said Jeff Boschee, who graduated from Kansas last year. "It's tough for them."
Williams' return to Chapel Hill, N.C., ends his 15-year tenure at a program he helped turn into one of the nation's most successful.
The fourth fastest coach in NCAA Division I history to win 400 games, Williams (418-101) won nine conference championships at Kansas and took the Jayhawks to the past 14 NCAA tournaments, including title games this season and in 1991.
After his team meeting, Williams flew to Chapel Hill, where the school scheduled a 10 p.m. ET news conference about its basketball program. Kansas chancellor Robert Hemenway said a statement from the school would be released during North Carolina's news conference.
"This is personal fellas. There is something I want to say," a choked-up Williams told reporters after the meeting. "This has been a special place. I really appreciate the way you have treated me."
Not all the Jayhawks in the half-hour meeting at Allen Fieldhouse were sad after hearing the news. Wayne Simien, who dislocated his shoulder in January and later had season-ending surgery, appeared angry.
"I gave my right arm for him, literally," said Simien, wearing a sling.
Stephen Vinson, a freshman walk-on, added: "I'm sure you can imagine it was not a good time in there."
Williams emerged teary-eyed from the meeting and refused to reveal his decision, saying he would announce it at the news conference.
The jet carrying Williams from Lawrence's municipal airport was en route to Chapel Hill, said Lloyd Hetrick, of Hetrick Aviation Services.
Williams lost last week to Syracuse in the national championship game and angrily refused to answer questions about the North Carolina job after the game.
Williams will replace Matt Doherty, who resigned shortly before the Final Four.
Williams' fierce loyalty to his players kept him in Kansas when he was first offered the job in Chapel Hill three years ago, and many Jayhawks fans hoped he would stay in Lawrence for good.
In June 2000, Williams spent an agonizing week following the retirement of North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge, forced to choose between two programs that desperately wanted him.
After a weeklong vacation at his home in South Carolina, and a day spent in Lawrence thinking it over, Williams announced his decision to 16,000 Jayhawk fans at Memorial Stadium.
"I'm staying," Williams said simply.
Given a second chance at North Carolina, he decided to go.
The decision comes three years after Williams rejected an offer to take over the Tar Heels' storied basketball program, where he learned his craft as an assistant under Dean Smith.
"It's sad for the program and the players who are here," said Jeff Boschee, who graduated from Kansas last year. "It's tough for them."
Williams' return to Chapel Hill, N.C., ends his 15-year tenure at a program he helped turn into one of the nation's most successful.
The fourth fastest coach in NCAA Division I history to win 400 games, Williams (418-101) won nine conference championships at Kansas and took the Jayhawks to the past 14 NCAA tournaments, including title games this season and in 1991.
After his team meeting, Williams flew to Chapel Hill, where the school scheduled a 10 p.m. ET news conference about its basketball program. Kansas chancellor Robert Hemenway said a statement from the school would be released during North Carolina's news conference.
"This is personal fellas. There is something I want to say," a choked-up Williams told reporters after the meeting. "This has been a special place. I really appreciate the way you have treated me."
Not all the Jayhawks in the half-hour meeting at Allen Fieldhouse were sad after hearing the news. Wayne Simien, who dislocated his shoulder in January and later had season-ending surgery, appeared angry.
"I gave my right arm for him, literally," said Simien, wearing a sling.
Stephen Vinson, a freshman walk-on, added: "I'm sure you can imagine it was not a good time in there."
Williams emerged teary-eyed from the meeting and refused to reveal his decision, saying he would announce it at the news conference.
The jet carrying Williams from Lawrence's municipal airport was en route to Chapel Hill, said Lloyd Hetrick, of Hetrick Aviation Services.
Williams lost last week to Syracuse in the national championship game and angrily refused to answer questions about the North Carolina job after the game.
Williams will replace Matt Doherty, who resigned shortly before the Final Four.
Williams' fierce loyalty to his players kept him in Kansas when he was first offered the job in Chapel Hill three years ago, and many Jayhawks fans hoped he would stay in Lawrence for good.
In June 2000, Williams spent an agonizing week following the retirement of North Carolina coach Bill Guthridge, forced to choose between two programs that desperately wanted him.
After a weeklong vacation at his home in South Carolina, and a day spent in Lawrence thinking it over, Williams announced his decision to 16,000 Jayhawk fans at Memorial Stadium.
"I'm staying," Williams said simply.
Given a second chance at North Carolina, he decided to go.
Tom Crean, Marquette
Mike Brey, Notre Dame
Mark Few, Gonzaga
Mark Turgeon, Wichita State
Apperently I'm going to end up eating my words when I said Bill Self would stay at Illinois. I have friends who are already betting on what day Self says goodbye. I've heard talk that Cean(sp?) of Marquette would be the likely replacement at Illinois. Anyone know anything about him?
Oh yeah, my roommate has threatened to kill someone is Charlie Villenueva goes straight to the NBA because Self leaves. So if I stop posting on the day Self leaves, you'll know why
) but it showed he could coach. Would be a good hire for any mid-major program like the U of I 
Of course this might mean he's playing for more money from Kansas, but I've got some hope now.
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