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Ol’ Roy tells his story

Posted on November 12, 2009November 12, 2009 by Staff

Williams at a recent signing
By Beth Mechum, Staff Writer

Roy Williams, head coach of the UNC men’s basketball team, is a national figure, but one that North Carolinians call their own.

That’s why it’s just perfect that Algonquin Books is the publisher of Williams’ first (and he says only) book, Hard Work: A Life On and Off the Court, released on Nov. 2. Algonquin is based in Chapel Hill and once was housed in Carrboro.

To be sure, there were other publishing companies on the hunt to buy the book, but Williams and co-author Tim Crothers felt that Algonquin had qualities the New York-based publishing houses did not.

“We shopped it to all of the major publishing houses and we decided Algonquin was the best combination of national distribution power and the ability regionally,” Crothers, a former Sports Illustrated senior writer and current UNC journalism professor said. “They understand how to move books in this area better than anyone else.”

Crothers said he also enjoyed the benefit of having editors and publishers so close. What most publishers would do by email, Algonquin did with meetings at coffee shops.
It was a relationship that was beneficial to both parties, creating a book-making process more personal than most.

“What was great about this was it was face to face, said Algonquin senior editor Kathy Pories. “It was almost like the old-fashioned way, where editors and authors are in touch all the time.”

Algonquin Books was founded as a small independent trade publisher in Chapel Hill in the early 1980s and was bought by Workman Publishing in 1989. Algonquin still maintains much of its editorial control, and many of its books tell stories that unfold in the South.

Pories is an admitted Roy Williams enthusiast. Working on his autobiography, she said, was both professionally and personally gratifying.

“I think in terms of getting the book, the local connection helped,” Pories said, “because I think [Williams] knew we knew North Carolina and Chapel Hill better than a national house would.”

Poires said she was surprised by how busy Williams was and how often he had to leave town on recruiting trips, but that it didn’t sway his commitment to the book.

“He’s very busy; but he’s so passionate about this,” Pories said. “That to me was huge.

“I just thought he was great, especially considering how much he has going on at the same time.”

As for Williams’ perspective on book writing: “I’ll never do it again,” he said. “It messed up my golf game.”

Crothers found time between Williams’ golf games, recruiting trips and other coaching duties to delve deeper into Williams’ life than many might expect from such a public figure.

Out for a week now, the book has sold in good numbers, Pories said. Much has already been made about certain parts – most particularly, Roy’s relationship with his father and his relationship with Bill Guthridge.

Williams hit the road last week to face those personal stories head-on, with book signings at McIntyre’s Fine Books in Fearrington Village and the Bulls Head Book Shop on the UNC campus. Lines snaked their way out the door hours in advance of both events.

Williams has a few more events, both national and local, to hawk his book. But then it’s back to doing the job most people know him for: coaching Carolina teams to NCAA championships.

“I know I’ll never do it again,” he said. “You know, I may not be a basketball coach, but I know I’m not an author.”

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