Buzz Williams might not hail from the DMV area, but his admiration for the Maryland men's basketball program is undeniable. In a heartfelt moment during his recent introductory press conference, Williams sat down with Johnny Holliday, a familiar voice for Maryland athletics fans. Their conversation, which was shared on YouTube, shed light on Williams' connections to the university's storied coaching lineage.
As the presser began, Williams made a point to shake hands with Gary Williams, a legendary figure in Terrapins coaching history. Reflecting on his relationships with former Maryland coaching greats, he shared how instrumental figures like Gary Williams and the late Lefty Driesell have influenced his career path.
During the hiring process, it was suggested Williams might want to connect with Gary Williams. He fondly recalled, "I've been writing to Coach Williams for years, and never really mentioned my longstanding correspondence with Coach Driesell, spanning two decades.
In fact, Coach Driesell's family reached out as his life drew to a close. His daughter and son often contacted me, relaying messages from Coach Driesell.
Additionally, one of my greatest mentors, George Raveling, who worked with Driesell in his early years, also features prominently in my life. Raveling’s recent book mentions me multiple times."
Williams emphasized that his desire to be part of the Maryland program was not fueled by its illustrious history alone. "I didn’t pursue the job because of the program's rich history or the talented coaches that came before me.
My relationships with these coaching legends were never meant to be leveraged for personal gain," he explained. The respect Williams holds for the program is apparent, and when it comes to legends like Gary Williams, Williams shared, "I'm going to acknowledge them, press conference or not."
Emotions ran high as Williams reminisced about Coach Driesell’s later years. Driesell's legacy at Maryland shines brightly, with significant achievements like winning two regular-season ACC titles, an ACC tournament title, and an NIT title from his tenure between 1969-1986.
His contributions to basketball earned him places in both the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Coach Driesell passed away last year at 92, leaving a significant impact on those who knew him.
Buzz shared a poignant memory from his interaction with Chuck Driesell, highlighting the emotional connection he had with the late coach: “Towards the end, when they took Coach Driesell's phone, he would insist his daughter or Chuck call me. After his passing, Chuck sent a touching text saying, 'My dad's rejoicing in heaven.'”
Williams’ reflections continued with an interview on the Big Ten Network, where he shared insights into his rapport with Gary Williams. "I started writing to Coach Williams and Coach Driesell when I was a kid, driven by immense respect,” he noted.
Buzz is well aware of the legacy he steps into, acknowledging, “There's only one Coach Williams here—his name's on the court. While I’ll be Buzz around here, that’s as it should be.
Coach Williams was my first call during this process, yet I kept my relationship with him private throughout.”
His appreciation extends beyond accolades, as Buzz Williams envisions crafting a journey at Maryland that mirrors the excellence set by his predecessors. He humbly stated, "What I've accomplished pales in comparison to Coach Williams’ legacy.
But I'm hopeful we can chart a path here much like he did during his historic tenure." Such reverence and optimism set the foundation for what could be an exciting new chapter for Maryland basketball under Buzz Williams’ guidance.
