Former Kansas Jayhawks and current North Carolina Tar Heels coach Roy Williams had surgery Wednesday to remove a tumor from his right kidney, news that came as a shock to close friends, reports the Lawrence Journal-World. Williams, 62, could need a similar surgery on his left kidney.
While receiving positive news from his doctors and given a vote of confidence to begin coaching when the Tar Heels begin practicing in October, friends and colleagues have sent their well-wishes, including current Kansas coach Bill Self:
Obviously, health is more important than basketball. We all wish him a speedy recovery to get himself back to 100 percent real soon. Roy obviously did a remarkable job at the University of Kansas. Remarkable. He's a great ambassador for our sport, and certainly everybody in the athletics community I'm sure sends their well-wishes with us.
Randy Towner, a longtime friend of Williams who was gathered with friends when the coach broke the news at Towner's Firekeeper Golf Course in Mayetta, N.C., said the news was "shocking" considering Williams' good health.
He'll be fine. It's all scary, but the odds are well in his favor. I told him, ‘You've got a pretty good winning percentage anyway (.801). I said, "You may have coached in some must-win situations, but they don't mean much compared to this." I think he'll coach a lot of games and win at least one more national championship before he hangs it up.
