SCSU's newest coach no stranger to Bulldogs
By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer Monday, June 30, 20083 comment(s) | Default | Large
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.
To subscribe to the print edition of The Times and Democrat, click here.
fhsmct wrote on Jul 1, 2008 6:06 PM:
BTW: who cares if the new hire previously worked at a BCS school? That kinda experience doesn't necessarily make one any more qualified than if he worked at a Div III school.
If he has the talent and ability, he's qualified no matter where he previously was employed.
Prime example: According to another article in the T&D, recently hired NY Knicks head coach, Dan D’Antoni spent 3 decades coaching at the high school level (won over 500 games @ Socastee High School). However, his talent and abilities have catapulted him into a more or less successful run in the NBA. The same with Doug Williams who coached at the high school (Point Coupee High School, New Roads, Louisiana & Northeast High School, Zachary, La) and Div II (Morehouse) level before becoming a Div 1AA head coach.
The ice isn't necessarily colder nor the sugar sweeter . . . "
Pitbull wrote on Jun 30, 2008 10:10 PM:
Bmore#1 wrote on Jun 30, 2008 12:59 PM: