Having served a variety of stints in the NCAA Division I, junior college and NAIA ranks, including two seasons at McPherson College in central Kansas, O.C. Williams begins his 10th season as a collegiate coach and his sixth alongside head coach Pete Shinnick at UNCP, while serving as the special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Braves.

While in Pembroke, Williams has been integral in developing not only one of the nation’s most elite total defenses, but also helping to register some of the nation’s best recruiting classes as well. Over the last four seasons, he has been instrumental in skippering pass defenses that have ranked among the nation’s best (8th in 2008, 15th in 2009, 11th in 2010), while also coaching the program’s first all-American (Caylon Hann). Under his watch, the Braves have also boasted the country’s best net punting squads over the last two seasons as well (13th in 2010, 17th in 2011).

Following a standout playing career at both Holmes (Miss.) Community College and Alcorn State, Williams remained on as a graduate assistant coach on special teams and helped the Braves to a 6-5 record as well as a third place finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s East Division. One of the wins came on the road at eventual division champion Alabama State.

From Alcorn, Williams garnered his first full-time position as the defensive backs coach for Richwood High School in Monroe, La., while also serving as an assistant tryout coordinator for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Edmonton Eskimos. In his four seasons with the powerhouse CFL club, Edmonton posted a cumulative 44-28 record, four playoff runs and two Grey Cup game appearances including a win over Montreal in the 2003 title bout.

While with Richwood, nine players qualified and received collegiate scholarships after a season that saw the Rams advance to the state quarterfinals.

As wide receivers coach for East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Miss., Williams helped engineer a passing attack that accounted for more than 1,000 yards and a bevy of touchdowns, including a trio of receivers that averaged better than 16 yards per reception. As defensive coordinator for McPherson last season, Williams spearheaded a stop unit for the Bulldogs that allowed less than 160 yards per game through the air. He spent the previous season (2005) as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator for MC.

A native of Lexington, Miss., and a four-sport athlete at McClain High School, Williams began his collegiate playing career at Holmes C.C. in Goodman, Miss., before matriculating to Alcorn State for the 1999 and 2000 campaigns. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in general studies from ASU in 2001, he continued his academics and later earned his master’s in secondary education from the institution in 2005.

Williams and his wife, Tasha, reside in Lumberton.

THE WILLIAMS FILE
Coaching Experience
2001: Alcorn State, Graduate Assistant (Special Teams)
2002-03: Richwood (La.) HS (Defensive Backs)
2001-04: CFL, Edmonton Eskimos (Asst. Tryout Coordinator)
2004: East Mississippi CC (Wide Receivers)
2005: McPherson (Defensive Backs/Special Teams)
2006: McPherson (Defensive Coordinator)
2007-Present: UNC Pembroke (Secondary)

Education: Bachelor’s degree in general studies (Alcorn State, 2001); Master’s degree in secondary education (Alcorn State, 2005)