To the editor:

Adolph Rupp, Henry Iba, John Wooden, Lute Olson, John Thompson, Phog Allen, Dean Smith. These are the names of basketball coaching legends that all have something in common: They ended or will end their careers having coached one program to prominence. They will go down in the annals of history as some of the game’s greatest coaches.

Unfortunately, Roy Williams will never be uttered in the same breath as these coaching legends. There is something to be said for finishing what you started and, with his decision to go to North Carolina, Roy has tainted his legacy at KU. Instead of being remembered as the greatest coach KU has ever had, he will always be remembered as the coach that left us for North Carolina.

At North Carolina he won’t have the longevity in his career to supplant Dean Smith in Tarheel faithful’s minds. In the annals of basketball history he will fall through the cracks. It’s a shame to see this happen as so very few reach that iconic status and Roy was so close.

Best wishes, Roy, good luck and thanks for your hard work. It’s been a good run. Don’t worry about us; we’ll be fine. Just like you, we will move on. It is just unfortunate that your tenure at KU will be considered the bridge between Larry Brown and a new head coach. A new coach who will most likely see KU as the pinnacle to their career and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a coaching legend.

Stephen Patton,

Lawrence