Let me start by saying that I called it. Just days before Roy’s retirement became official, I released a column about the potential that we would see a new head coach before next season and as we all know, I was right.
Even being able to say “I told you so,” it was still a hard pill to swallow – knowing that such a dominant era was coming to a close. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t get a little choked up or shed a few tears during the final press conference. In fact, I got so emotional listening to Williams in the car that I lost track of my speed and got hit with a hefty ticket on the route back home. When it rains it pours.
The three-time national champion was one of the primary reasons that I fell in love with Carolina Basketball, which ultimately led me to fall in love with the university as I grew older. In all seriousness, Coach Williams might be the catalyst that brought me to the quaint, little town of Chapel Hill.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and I’m glad that Roy chose to step away before tainting his legacy with another poor season result. Nonetheless, it sure was one hell of a run. If you missed the press conference last week, it’s a must watch for any Tar Heel or college basketball enthusiast.
Roy Williams Retirement Press Conference
Once the dust had settled and our eyes were dry, the sports world began clamoring about who may be in line to fill such big shoes. Among the candidates were Mark Few of Gonzaga, Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics, and several UNC alumni including Jerry Stackhouse, Wes Miller and long-time assistant Hubert Davis.
While there was a strong case to be made for every individual, the program was under a strict deadline and had only a matter of days to make such a pivotal decision. As the curtain closed on the “recruiting” process last Monday, it was announced that the Tar Heels would stay within the family and Davis would take on the role this upcoming year.
The former player turned head coach will become the first African-American head coach for the UNC basketball program and brings with him expertise from not only Williams, but also the iconic Dean Smith.
Davis played the entirety of his four-year career at Carolina and finished his senior season with an average of 21.4 PPG. The most impressive game of his senior campaign came against the Blue Devils, where he dropped 35 points at Cameron Indoor. Over the course of 12-years as a NBA athlete, he starred on six different franchises and his 44.1% three-point percentage ranks second in league history behind only Steve Kerr. Here’s a little highlight mix if you’ve never seen Davis play.
Now that I’ve developed somewhat of a profile on Davis, you might be asking yourself what this hire means for the future of the program? Fortunately for you, I’m here to share my thoughts on the matter and highlight the most prominent strengths of the heir to the throne.
For starters, many followers of the team may not know that while working as an assistant to Roy, Hubert Davis was also functioning as the JV Head Coach at Carolina. Sure, Division I of the NCAA is a completely different talent level and it will require some adjustments, but it’s reassuring to know that Davis will not be stepping into an entirely new position. For what it’s worth Williams had never been a head coach before taking the position at Kansas; instead, his only job was to coach the JV team. We’re all aware of the success Williams encountered, so here’s to hoping Davis shares the same luck.
Likewise, Davis knows what it’s like to be on the floor as a player, not just at the collegiate level but in the NBA as well. It is becoming more and more typical for professional athletes to find work as coaches after retirement, with players like Patrick Ewing, Penny Hardaway and Juwan Howard all working at their alma maters. Recruits may be more likely to attend a college or university that is being led by a former player, as they carry the knowledge of what it takes to make it to the next level and find success.
Outside of his experience on the floor directly, Davis carries even more basketball expertise as a result of his years working as an ESPN analyst. While this up and coming generation of players is too young to remember Hubert’s playing career, there is a strong likelihood that he grazed their television screens in the mid-to-late 2000s. Not only will this pay dividends in the recruiting process, but it implies that Davis was also able to explore programs around the country and track growing trends in the game. With such a variety of basketball-related careers, it’s hard to fathom that any coach will have a higher IQ than Davis.
The nail in the coffin with Hubert is that he has worked closely with the two most iconic coaches in Carolina Basketball history – Roy Willaims and Dean Smith – for extended periods of time. On one hand, this will ensure that the team continues to utilize the schemes and styles of play that have worked for so long. Davis can pick and choose what was most efficient under the guidance of each coach, and become a legend himself. Furthermore, it has taught Davis what traits build a great coach and through the embodiment of such qualities, Davis can continue to lead the program at an elite level.
Stand alone, each of these strengths may not be that impressive. However, the fact that Davis holds all four should be an indicator that dominance is in the crosshairs of Carolina. It won’t happen in a year, it may even take a half-decade, but I am confident that Davis will bring a National Championship back to Chapel Hill before his tenure comes to an end.
Stanley out.
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