UNC Coach Roy Williams’ book hits stands Nov. 3

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Can’t wait to get my hands on this. Snippet from story in the Charlotte Observer:

When North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams was 14, he pulled his drunk and angry father off his mother, shoved a bottle under his chin, and threatened to kill him if he didn’t leave.

“My dad never, ever came back to our house again” Williams says in his autobiography “Hard Work: A Life on and Off the Court” that will be on sale Nov.3. “Frances (Williams’ sister) was more forgiving. I was not. I was mad that he’d torn our family apart.”

The 288-page hardcover book, written with former Sports Illustrated reporter Tim Crothers, details Williams’ journey from his rough early years in the North Carolina mountains to two-time NCAA-title-winning coach. An early copy was obtained by The (Raleigh) News & Observer.

Williams, a native of Asheville and a North Carolina graduate, has coached the Tar Heels since 2003. His Tar Heels teams won national titles in 2005 and in April. Williams was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame two years ago. An assistant coach under Dean Smith before leaving to coach Kansas in 1988, Williams has the highest winning percentage among active mens college basketball coaches.

In 14 chapters, the book covers everything from Williams’ relationship with his alcoholic father and loving mother; to reading “Goodnight Moon” about 8,000 times to his two children; to how he developed his superstitions and coaching philosophies; to his decisions to stay with Kansas in 2000 and then return to North Carolina in 2003.