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John L. Williams does not need much schooling about South Carolina State University.
A former player and assistant coach at North Carolina A&T during the 1990s, the Greenville, N.C. got a firsthand view of the Bulldogs’ football tradition. As a senior, he lined up against the Bulldogs’ team which went 10-2 and won both the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and Heritage Bowl.
Starting today, Williams will try to help add to SCSU’s history as the new strength and conditioning coach. He replaces Thomas Stallworth, who resigned to take a similar job at Grambling State.
Ironically, Williams was reportedly under consideration for the same position following his departure from Baylor University. He spent six years with the Bears starting in 2002 and had served as an assistant athletics director since August 2006.
Williams also spent three seasons from 1997-99 as a graduate assistant at the University of North Carolina and one year as a strength and conditioning coach at Oklahoma State.
Known as “Big John” for his imposing stature, Williams has coached seven first-round NFL Draft selections such as defensive ends Greg Ellis and Ebenezer Ekuban (both of the Dallas Cowboys), Vonnie Holliday (formerly of the Green Bay Packers) and Julius Peppers (Carolina Panthers).
“He is a very strong coach that works all the athletes very hard,” Former Baylor quarterback Shawn Bell told The Lariat in a March 7, 2007 article. “Over time he has come to know each athlete individually and relates his methods of coaching to everyone’s benefit.”
Former Baylor defensive tackle M.T. Robinson also spoke favorably of Williams.
“There are few who were not able to relate to him,” Robinson said. “Most do well with his style of training. I felt like I flourished under him.”
Williams is the fifth new assistant coach hired by Pough since the conclusion of the 2007 season. Already on board are quarterbacks coach Kevin Magouirk (Pronounced Ma-gurk), running backs coach Danny Lewis, defensive backs/special teams coach Maurice Drayton and wide receivers coach Howard Feggins.
SCSU players will officially report to training camp Aug. 5.
T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.