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Williams, represented by Richard Hunegs and Donald Chance Mark Jr., claim new head basketball Coach Tubby Smith contacted Williams and offered him a job as an assistant coach of which Williams accepted. Maturi however, withdrew the offer because of NCAA violations on his record from his days at Minnesota during the Jim Dutcher era. Williams is suing to carry out the agreement worked about with Smith. Williams was an assistant for the Gophers from 1971 to 1986 when he took over midway through the season for Dutcher. He amassed a 2-9 record as interim head coach. Williams’ lawyers will hold a press conference Thursday at 2 p.m. In Sid Hartman’s Sept. 23 column published in the Star Tribune, Maturi said, “there isn’t any basis for the lawsuit.” University spokesman Dan Wolter, in an e-mail, said the University will not comment further pending future developments. Wolter added that if the case “does proceed to litigation, that will likely change.”