UNC coach Roy Williams collapses yelling at ref
BOSTON -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams got dizzy and collapsed Tuesday night while voicing his displeasure at an ACC referee during the Tar Heel's attempt to avoid a three-game losing skid.
CBSSports.com's Chip Patterson reports Williams was yelling the ref as the broadcast went to a timeout when he collapsed in front of his team's bench. Justin Jackson and other players were there to catch Williams, but he was escorted to the locker room after the incident.
UNC spokesman Steve Kirschner said Williams got dizzy but is doing OK. The incident occurred during the first media timeout of the second half.
Kirschner gave another update about 20 minutes later and said that Williams got up from his chair too fast, triggering a bout of vertigo. He was receiving medication and was expected to remain in the locker room for the remainder of the game.
Longtime assistant Steve Robinson led the team in Williams' absence as UNC (20-4, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) rallied from a nine-point deficit for a 68-65 win that ended a two-game skid and kept UNC atop the league standings ahead of No. 7 Virginia.
Williams returned to shake hands with Eagles coach Jim Christian afterward and attend part of UNC's postgame news conference.
Scary moment in tonight's UNC game as head coach Roy Williams collapsed and had to be helped to the locker room: https://t.co/Sc824UOxAv
— ESPN (@espn) February 10, 2016
"I really felt like it was important for me to come out so I could shake Jimmy's hand because I felt sorry for my being a distraction," Williams said afterward.
Kirschner said on Wednesday that Williams is expected to be at the team's next practice. The ninth-ranked Tar Heels had a previously scheduled day off and would return to practice Thursday ahead of a weekend home game against Pittsburgh.
Williams' regularly scheduled Friday news conference in Chapel Hill is still on as well.
"We expect him to be back at practice (Thursday) and coach on Sunday," Kirschner said.
The 65-year-old Williams had previous bouts with vertigo in the past and felt dizzy when standing up quickly.
The Tar Heels are concluding a three-game road trip.