His personality carried the program. Williams refused to change his coaching philosophy of using a pressing, up-tempo style, even though he now concedes that a more tempered style might have produced more victories. Walt Williams, now with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, believes this move paid off. He's definitely a player's coach. He does not try to hold players down.
Players respond to that.
So, it seems, did the fans. Gary made us believe we could win every game, and we always kept the games close. That's what kept fans coming. Among those fans was Duane Simpkins, who in 1992 was a star point guard at powerful DeMatha High School in Hyattsville. Simpkins played pickup games with Walt Williams and other Terrapins.