The Comcast Center will be named in honor of Gary Williams on December 9 and I can think of no higher praise for Maryland’s greatest coach. It is a great honor for a great coach. He led the Terps for the previous 22 seasons of hoops. He led his alma mater from the dark ages of probation following the Len Bias death to ACC championships and a national title in 2002. As of March 2011, Williams was the 5th winningest active coach in the country and 3rd all-time in the ACC. His 461-252 record at Maryland helped him become the winningest coach in Maryland history surpassing the legendary Lefty Driesell. In his 22 years at Maryland, he has embodied the spirit of “giving back” both on and off the court.

Williams’ class and teaching were always on display on the court whether it was Cole Field House or the Comcast Center. His fire and passion for the game were something I loved to see as a Maryland fan. My favorite team was of course the national title team but there were so many players that passed through College Park that he helped mold and shape whether it was Keith Booth, Walt Williams, Joe Smith, Steve Francis, Juan Dixon, Greivis Vasquez, or the many others. He was a teacher of the game and honoring him with a name on the court seems right to me. It is a thank you to Gary Williams for everything he has meant to Maryland basketball.