NEW ORLEANS -- Whether Roy Williams remains at Kansas or leaves for the North Carolina coaching job might hinge on the future of Jayhawks athletic director Al Bohl.

Williams would probably stay at Kansas if Bohl is ousted and if either Richard Konzem or John Hadl is appointed Kansas' new AD, a source close to the situation told the Kansas City Star in its Monday editions.

Williams has an icy relationship with Bohl and is strongly considering leaving Kansas if the AD isn't either fired or asked to resign, the Star's source said. It has been widely confirmed through sources within the athletic department that Bohl has strained relationships with both Williams and football coach Mark Mangino.

"These rumors have taken on a life of their own," Bohl told the newspaper Monday night. "Right now, we should really be focusing on the fact that we just lost the championship game to Syracuse and that I'm going to do everything humanly possible to keep Roy at Kansas."

North Carolina hasn't asked Williams to replace Matt Doherty as coach, but when the Tar Heels make an offer within the next week they are expected to want an immediate answer, ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported Monday night.

Williams, interviewed Tuesday by USA Today, said he was going to meet with former boss Dean Smith on Tuesday night, suggesting North Carolina already has begun its pitch to lure Williams back to Chapel Hill.

"I would imagine we'll be talking about something other than free throws," Williams told USA Today. "I haven't spoken to anyone else from North Carolina. I don't have any planned talks with anyone from North Carolina. "If -- and everyone should emphasize that word -- if anything is done, it will be done quickly."

Bohl said North Carolina hasn't formally asked to talk to Williams. He also denied there is a rift between the two.

Sources within the North Carolina program told ESPN.com that Williams would be given the right of first refusal, just like three years ago when Williams turned down the opportunity to return to his alma mater, where he worked as an assistant under Smith in the late-1970s until taking the Kansas job after the Jayhawks' championship season under Larry Brown in 1988.

Tar Heels sources told ESPN.com that Sixers coach Larry Brown would be their next target if Williams turns them down.

According to the Star's source, Kansas chancellor Robert Hemenway, who hired Bohl in June 2001, is aware of the problems between the athletic director and some of his staff and well aware Williams is considering leaving for North Carolina if Bohl keeps his job.

"Right now, it's all up to the chancellor," the source told the newspaper.

Smith was seated in Section 113 in the Superdome on Monday and shook the hands of Kansas fans, who said "Please don't take our coach" as Smith signed autographs.

"We haven't spoken [about the North Carolina job]," Smith told the Star. "Roy invited me down, and that's all we've talked about. I have no idea about the job."

Williams is insistent on Kansas selecting either Konzem, 46, or Hadl, 63, -- both are long-time athletic department employees and have solid relationships with Williams -- as Bohl's replacement, the source said.a

Konzem, when interviewed late Monday night, said he had not been contacted about becoming athletic director. Hadl, one of the greatest football players in Kansas history, spends much of his time working with Mangino on football fund-raising, according to the newspaper.

James Worthy, the former Carolina star who was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday, told the Star he hopes Williams would listen to the Tar Heels when they come calling.

"With all due respect for Kansas, I hope he comes to North Carolina," said Worthy, who also attended the final. "As far as I'm concerned there's only one man for the job and no one else. That's Roy Williams. I really don't think there's a second choice."