‘Gary Williams’ Court Not A Done Deal

Plans to name the court at Maryland’s Comcast Center after former men’s basketball coach Gary Williams have hit a snag, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Williams retired in May after 22 seasons as the winningest men’s basketball coach in the school’s history. In addition, he led the Terrapins to two Final Four appearances and the school’s only national title.

Maryland AD Kevin Anderson supports the creation of “Gary Williams Court, as do some prominent boosters.

Gary has been an iconic figure both in Maryland basketball and in the university, longtime Terrapin Club member Barry DesRoches told the Sun. It should be done.”

But the Sun reports “a small but potent minority” says naming the court after Williams would be unfair to former men’s coach Lefty Driesell and current women’s coach Brenda Frese. Driesell won 348 games over 17 seasons with the Terps while Frese won a national championship in 2006.

The newspaper reports that most of the naming proposal’s critics declined to be publicly named, though local sports commentator Stan “The Fan” Charles wrote in May that naming the court for Williams “may be a bit premature.”

Williams and Driesell declined to comment to the Sun.

The Board of Regents may consider the topic at its meeting Friday.

Former congressman and Board of Regents member Tom McMillen, who was a star at Maryland under Driesell, said: “I’ve known Gary since 1963. Clearly Gary needs to be recognized for his service. I think the board just needs to hear all the arguments. I’ve heard pros and cons.”

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