Maryland Terps Coach Gary Williams Retires

Press conference to come tomorrow but for now here’s some info via the AP: “Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams announced his retirement Thursday, saying “it’s the right time” for him to end a career in which he led his alma mater to the 2002 national championship. Williams coached for 33 years, the last 22 at Maryland, where he played as a guard from 1964-67. His career record is 668-380, including 461-252 at Maryland. Under his direction, the Terrapins went to the NCAA tournament 14 times, won or shared three Atlantic Coast Conference titles and reached the Final Four twice. ‘My entire career has been an unbelievable blessing. I am fiercely proud of the program we have built here,’ Williams said. ‘I couldn’t have asked any more from my players, my assistant coaches, the great Maryland fans and this great university. Together, we did something very special here.’ Williams, 66, arrived at Maryland in 1989, when the program was still struggling under the weight of NCAA violations. The Terps endured two straight losing seasons before reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time under his direction in 1994, and he never had another sub-.500 season the rest of the way… Williams will stay on with Maryland as assistant athletic director and special assistant to Anderson.”