UNC Coach Roy Williams: Nike 'Never Helped' Recruit Players
North Carolina head basketball coach Roy Williams says that Nike has never helped him to recruit players.
Williams' comments come after the federal government charged 10 people in a corruption and fraud scheme last month.
Authorities say that four college basketball coaches and others took bribes to steer college basketball players to sign with shoe-affiliated schools.
"They've never helped me get any player, never insinuated, never done anything," Williams told ESPN.
"I've dealt with Nike and Jordan Brand since I came back here, but we never even discuss things like that," Williams said. "So I know it's foreign to me."
According to a federal criminal complaint alleging corruption in college basketball, Louisville's longtime coach Rick Pitino is said to have knowledge in a scheme involving Adidas executive Jim Gatto and others to help the school sign a five–star recruit by paying his family $100,000.
Rick Pitino's Legacy Will Reflect College Hoops at Its Best and Its Worst
Pitino denies the claim and the school suspended him without pay and are moving forward with his dismissal.
Williams, who coached UNC to the national championship last season, says he isn't sure that paying athletes is the solution to stop the corruption in college basketball.
"I don't think that's a perfect answer," Williams said. "And I really don't. I think that you can't legislate honesty. You can't legislate morality. You just try to get people to do things the right way. ... Is paying the players the answer? I'm not saying it's wrong, but I don't think that's the answer."
