Roy Williams 'embarrassed' by effects of North Carolina's HB2 law

Roy Williams has had a taxing year.

The 66-year-old coach has dealt with various injuries, including three different knee surgeries and a vertigo attack, as well as an ongoing NCAA investigation into North Carolina regarding five Level 1 violations - none of which surround the men's basketball team - but one issue that continues to upset the Tar Heels' bench boss is the effect of the state's HB2 law, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.

"I get asked about it in recruiting," Williams said Friday. "It's put our state in a very negative situation. I'm embarrassed by it, I'm sad about it, I don't like it. Very, very passionate about it. In a way you've got to be very careful because people going to say your school - state supported. But we're wrong. We're wrong. That's all you can say is we're wrong. The worst thing about it is it's given people a different image of our state than what it truly is."

Williams added that he sees the law as having done nothing but harm to the state of North Carolina, as well as its residents.

"That's the saddest thing," Williams said. "A guy asked me the other day, 'How can you live there?' I'm thinking, 'Gracious.' That's the saddest thing. It's given people outside the state a terrible opinion of our state, and a terrible opinion of the people of our state - and I think they're wrong. I just think it's wrong. That has caused things to happen that is harmful to our state - and is harmful to the reputation of the people of the state."

Along with addressing the impact felt by the state's HB2 law, Williams also addressed his career plans moving forward. Despite different health issues in recent years, Williams plans to keep doing what he loves to do.

"As long as I'm healthy, I'm going to keep coaching," Williams said. "Coach (Dean) Smith told me years ago he retired too early and I'm not going to do that."