Years in the making, Gary Williams Court opens with a punch

When Gary Williams graduated from this university in 1968, he didn't know whether he'd ever be back. He couldn't foresee returning to his alma mater, becoming the program's winningest coach or winning a national championship. He certainly never thought the court on which the Terrapins basketball team plays would one day bear his name.

But in a ceremony before last night's game against Duke — a 74-61 Terps loss — the hardwood at Comcast Center was christened Gary Williams Court.

With Athletic Director Kevin Anderson and ACC Commissioner John Swofford on hand, two logos emblazoned with Williams' signature were revealed on the court, honoring the coach who retired in April after 22 years and 461 wins.

"Obviously, this is something special to me." Williams said during a press conference just before tip-off. "It's been a great ride."

As for his John Hancock?

"Didn't look bad," Williams joked.

Williams began the night with one more walk onto the floor before uncorking his signature fist pump. (And for the last time, he said later.)

A short video documenting "the kid from South Jersey" and his career in College Park then played overhead, interspersing highlights of Cole Field House, Williams' playing days, his introductory press conference and the national championship he won in 2002.

He'd inherited a program in 1989 ravaged by recruiting violations that kept the Terps out of the NCAA Tournament and off of television. Thirteen years later, Comcast Center was finished, a state-of-the-art facility made possible by his own rebuilding of the Terps brand.

The naming of the court "will serve as a constant reminder that this is The House That Gary Built," said Johnny Holliday, the master of ceremonies.

"It's something that I hope everybody feels a part of, that's ever been connected with basketball at the University of Maryland," Williams said.

Taking the microphone on the court with the same lump in his throat he had when he was introduced as coach more than two decades ago, Williams thanked the fans, players, assistants and students who helped make his tenure the success it was.

Talk of Williams' court-naming had begun well before he stepped down last May, and university President Wallace Loh said during Williams' retirement press conference that he would officially lobby for the honor. It seemed only a matter of time before Williams' name was on the Comcast Center floor.

In recent days, however, what was supposed to be a celebration of his legacy instead morphed into a discussion of a predecessor, after former Terps coach Lefty Driesell — the man whom Williams overtook as the program's all-time winningest coach — said he was unhappy that the court was being named for someone.

"That's not my concern," Williams said last night. "My concern is this university, this basketball program, Mark Turgeon being able to carry out what he's here to do — that's my work now."

Though Driesell said he felt the honor was inappropriate, many of the students in attendance fully believed Williams deserved the honor.

"Oh, yeah, for sure," freshman government and politics major Ryan Ouimette said. "He's the icon in Maryland basketball. It's good to see him get honored. He deserves it."

"I think it's fantastic. Even seeing him come out on the court was absolutely amazing," freshman engineering major Pete Frost said. "I never saw him coach, but just seeing him tonight was incredible."

As great as the honor was for the man who helped put Terps basketball back on the map, he admitted that he still wouldn't be able to fully comprehend the magnitude of the night.

"As time goes by, it will sink in. It's one of those things that really hasn't hit yet," Williams said. "But as time goes by, that's really something."

schneider@umdbk.com