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Hard Work: A Life on and Off the Court
Coach Roy Williams, one of the most successful basketball coaches in the nation, tells the story of his life that few people know, from his turbulent family life as a child to the North Carolina Tar Heels' National Championship victory in 2009.
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
November 10th 2009
by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
(first published 2009)
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Sam Stevens
Mr. Rich
English 10
10 November 2011
Book Review D
Williams, Roy. Hard Work. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Algonquin Books, 2009.
Hard Work, by Roy Williams, is a truly inspiring story of how the head coach of the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team, Roy Williams, got to where he is today. The book traces the improbable story of Roy Williams, legendary head coach of Kansas and now North Carolina. Roy's family had no money but ...more
Mr. Rich
English 10
10 November 2011
Book Review D
Williams, Roy. Hard Work. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Algonquin Books, 2009.
Hard Work, by Roy Williams, is a truly inspiring story of how the head coach of the University of North Carolina men’s basketball team, Roy Williams, got to where he is today. The book traces the improbable story of Roy Williams, legendary head coach of Kansas and now North Carolina. Roy's family had no money but ...more
Bart Boyle
added it
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hard Work by Roy Williams with Tim Crothers. His rags to riches story from growing up in a poor town in rural western North Carolina to becoming one of the best college basketball coaches in the country is truly remarkable. One part I particularly enjoyed were the stories from his childhood. The reason that he played basketball when he was young was to get away from his living condition with an alcoholic and abusive father. The court was the place where he ...more
If you "bleed blue" like me, you won't be able to put this book down, or in my case, Kindle. Roy takes you back to his childhood years and a broken home, finding peace by breaking in to the local high school gym at night to shoot hoops by himself. Motivated by special mentors, Roy learned the value of family and hard work early and has risen to unbelievable heights as college basketballs's premier coach. Roy looks at every player as someone's son and treats them as if he was his own, i...more
I enjoyed this book. I am a huge North Carolina basketball fan, and have huge respect for Roy, so this was a no brainer to read when it came out. It was interesting to read about his childhood...he hadn't really said alot publicly about it until now.
I didn't realize that his father was mostly absent from the home, and how difficult things were growing up.
It was also really interesting to hear his perspective on some games that I remember very well; what he was thinking inside t...more
I didn't realize that his father was mostly absent from the home, and how difficult things were growing up.
It was also really interesting to hear his perspective on some games that I remember very well; what he was thinking inside t...more
Hard Work is a story about the life of Roy Williams. He is one of the best coaches that I have ever seen. He knows exactly how to coach a team. He is one of the hardest working coaches in all of college basketball. He is a future hall of famer.
I liked this book a lot. I like how he worked for everything that he got and he worked hard. I like how the book tells you evrey player that he ever coached when he was a Division I college basketball coach. It was just a vrey good, ...more
I liked this book a lot. I like how he worked for everything that he got and he worked hard. I like how the book tells you evrey player that he ever coached when he was a Division I college basketball coach. It was just a vrey good, ...more
First of all, ever since I finished reading this book, the Heels have been in a total tailspin. And Roy himself has been struggling, crying in press conferences and the like. I blame myself for all of this, as I am sure by reading this book I somehow cursed the Heels.
Putting all that aside, I enjoyed reading my signed copy of Hard Work (thanks Milly and Matt). I learned some things and I feel like I understand Roy a lot better than I did before reading the book. Hard Work is writ...more
Putting all that aside, I enjoyed reading my signed copy of Hard Work (thanks Milly and Matt). I learned some things and I feel like I understand Roy a lot better than I did before reading the book. Hard Work is writ...more
Terry Moffitt
added it
Who watched Coach Williams as a player as he played against my brother in High School; then played against him as a player while he was the coach at Owen HS; and finally played for him at UNC during his first year on staff and I really enjoyed this book. If you are a basketball, sports or UNC fan this is a must read. There is also a lot to be learned about leadership, life and a strong work ethic here. I highly recommend this book.
A fairly ordinary, ghost-written, book about a successful basketball coach. The usual over-long descriptions of bygone games and tournaments. However, Williams adds a little something extra that I've not seen before in this genre; in an Appendix, he lists the names of each of the players he has guided as a head coach.
A nice touch, that, remembering the people who contributed mightily to his success.
A nice touch, that, remembering the people who contributed mightily to his success.
Conversational, quick-reading memoir from Roy Williams. I knew he'd had to deal with some adversity when he was growing up, but I didn't realize quite how tough his situation was. It's a sad story at times but overall it's pretty inspiring. Full of bits of basketball trivia and interest. Recommended for fans of Tar Heel basketball, and for others interested in college basketball history.
I have always loved Carolina Basketball. This book chronicles one of the best coaches in college basketball history and he just happens to be the coach for my Tarheels. Roy's story is a fantastic look at breaking through your past and going for your dreams. I was very encouraged by the fact that he said that he would always succeed because no one would ever outwork him.
After reading this book I am very sorry I was so angry at Coach for leaving Kansas. He's a good, honorable man. I believe his determination, competitiveness and uber long work weeks would have allowed him to succeed at whatever he set his mind to. The man is driven! Good easy read that teaches you a lot about college basketball. Who know recruiting was so brutal.
Roy's life story is simply and well told. He has me convinced that he works hard; I'm exhausted just reading about it. The North Carolina mountains don't turn out a lot of successful, rich and famous people, so good on Roy for getting to the top. And it's even better that life at the top hasn't made him lose his mountain accent and his cornball, old fashioned view of the world, not to mention his crankiness.
This book is a little corny but I believe Roy is real and also he just happens to be the best coach of the best basketball program in the country…..GO HEEELS!
Good book. Definitely learned things about Roy Williams that I didn't know before. As a Carolina alum, it was hard to read the chapter about his decision to stay at Kansas. It wasn't any more fun to read than it was to watch it happen the first time.
It was a great read as a Tarheel fan but no one outside the family is going to find it interesting. It seems Roy Williams created UNC's dynasty by convincing Dean Smith to go after Michael Jordan. Four national titles later we found ourselves in The NIT.
Easy to read, good story about an ordinary fellow maturing into a dadgum extraordinary college basketball coach. I liked Roy before. I like him more now.
Hard to believe I could love UNC more but I do after reading this book. I am a huge Roy Williams fan!
Great Coach who has lived a blessed life that he earned through hard work and dedication.
An awesome overview of Roy's life with some fun insights about his teams!
This book is a must-read for any real Tar Heel fan! Roy and Tim Crothers do a great job telling Roy's story on and off the court. You get a behind-the-scenes look at many of the biggest moments in his career. And his voice comes right out in his writing, with plenty of "dadgum"s and "shoot"s.
Even if you just love college basketball, it's a great look at the life of one of the greatest coaches in the country.
Even if you just love college basketball, it's a great look at the life of one of the greatest coaches in the country.
Teresa
added it
Great read for every Tarheel fan!
LOVE ROY!
ROY <3
Only gave 3 bc im a heels fan...
Ol' Roy isn't going to win any writing awards any time soon, but that's OK--he wins enough basketball games! Not really such a compelling life story, but there's plenty here to interest any serious Tar Heel basketball fans.
Great book about a great coach who happens to be a solid all-around man.
Enjoyed the book for its tidbits of info that was new to me. It was pretty cheesy but Roy is a cheesy guy. I think the author did well in using Roy's voice.
I love Roy's beliefs, story and principles.
Makes you absolutely trust him as a coach and as a person.
Also makes you feel lucky you went to school at UNC.
I'm not Tarheel born nor Tarheel bred but i'll bleed blue til I'm Tarheel dead!
Makes you absolutely trust him as a coach and as a person.
Also makes you feel lucky you went to school at UNC.
I'm not Tarheel born nor Tarheel bred but i'll bleed blue til I'm Tarheel dead!
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