Roy Williams heals hurt feelings with Fieldhouse return

Last night’s Allen Fieldhouse celebration was put together to revere three parts of Kansas basketball: the four coaches (Roy Williams, Bill Self, Larry Brown and Ted Owens), the building itself and the fans. Overall, the three hour event did just that.

Inside Allen Fieldhouse, the audience contained people who greatly impacted Allen Fieldhouse and in some cases, their living spouses or children. There were former players, including a couple that played in the Fieldhouse’s first game in March 1955. The current 2014-15 basketball team members were also in attendance. Phog Allen’s living descendants were there. Former and current assistant coaches, administrators and chancellors were represented. The fans, who were lauded by Jay Bilas, the four coaches and other speakers, made up the majority of the audience sitting in the bleachers.

Last night was an amazing night for so many people and Allen Fieldhouse. But it meant more for one individual than it did for anyone else.

Roy Williams loves Allen Fieldhouse and Kansas basketball. And last night, he was finally recognized for his 15 years of work inside the building he started his head coaching career. Williams hadn’t been inside Allen Fieldhouse since he took the North Carolina job.

Williams’ departure created a lasting effect on the fans of KU basketball and the coach. Fans were hurt that he would leave Kansas after stating so many times he didn’t want to leave. Dean Smith needed him to come home to North Carolina and fans couldn’t believe Smith would turn around and take him away after convincing KU’s last two coaches to go to Kansas (Larry Brown and Williams).

Williams’ leaving the program also created a rift in-between Bill Self and Roy Williams. Self even told a story about his first team meeting with the players after Williams left. Self described his way of coaching and teaching and Keith Langford asked him if it was the superior way to play. Self said yes but Langford questioned it because Williams’ coaching produced more wins than Self’s the past few years at Illinois.

That same questioning was used by KU fans for many years. That all went away in 2008 when Bill Self went to his first Final Four, beat Roy Williams and went on to win his first national championship. Williams, who loved Kansas so much, was given a Jayhawk sticker for his black shirt at the national championship and fans suddenly began to love Roy Williams again.

After Kansas won in 2008, KU athletics began using Roy Williams in their “Dream On” video showing highlights of past coaches and players. Before 2008, Kansas didn’t want to use Williams partly because Self and Williams are recruiting the same elite high school players.

The fans shifting their hatred away from Williams compounded in 2013 when Bill Self beat North Carolina in the NCAA tournament again. This time in the round of 32.

The fans began to accept Williams’ decision partly because Bill Self was doing things that Roy Williams did but even better. Williams once had a 55-game winning streak in Allen Fieldhouse. Self shattered that with a 69-game winning streak. Williams has taken more KU teams to the Final Four but Bill Self was able to win a championship, something Roy Williams still regrets not doing for his 1997 team and his 2002 & 2003 teams.

The reason why the event came together was because of Bill Self. He wanted to do a charity event with all four coaches and it happened to coincide with the 60th year anniversary of Allen Fieldhouse.

Self said it was easy to ask Ted Owens but he wanted to ask Larry Brown and Roy Williams in person.

For Williams, he was waiting to be asked back before he returned to Lawrence. So for Self to reach out to him, that was another step in the process for Williams to feel accepted again.

Despite the change in fans’ behavior, Williams still hasn’t been able to come back to Lawrence. That changed last week when Roy Williams came to visit. And Williams stepped inside Allen Fieldhouse on Monday night in front of fans for the first time in over 11 years.

It was already going to be an emotional night for Williams but I don’t think he expected how the crowd would react.

Roy Williams received the loudest cheers of any coach last night. He received a standing ovation before and after his speech, which lasted longer than any of the other coaches’ ovations.

And with that reception, it’s clear that any of Williams or KU fan’s hurt feelings are officially gone.

Self finished his speech by reflecting on Williams returning and how important he is to this program.

“Twelve years is too long without visiting. Get back here,” Self said to Williams.