"I did have some opportunities to get into the league in the past," Williams said. "When I retired, you think, well, you've coached the last time. And I'd been a college coach a long time.

"The pro game's always fascinated me because it's pure basketball," he said. "You're kind of on equal footing because of salary caps and things like that. I will always like that idea because sometimes in college you get into situations where you just don't have the ability to do what other teams you have to supposedly beat [can do]. Never say never is the way I've always looked at it."

Why not?

Nearly everyone has always acknowledged that Williams, with a career record of 668-380 and one NCAA championship, is a great coach. He has a reputation as an excellent game coach. His perceived weakness at the end of his Maryland run was the distaste he had for recruiting in today's college basketball atmosphere -- something that won't be part of his NBA coaching duties.

He is demanding. He is intense. But that doesn't mean he doesn't know how to manage players and personalities. His players who have gone on to play in the NBA remain fiercely loyal to Williams long after they left College Park.

Gary Williams, coach of the Washington Wizards.

Why not?

Examiner columnist Thom Loverro is the co-host of "The Sports Fix" from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on ESPN980 and espn980.com. Contact him at tloverro@washingtonexaminer.com.