VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State Athletic Department and Blazer Athletic Director Herb Reinhard are pleased to announce the addition of defensive coordinator Chad Williams to the Blazer football coaching staff.
Williams, who played professionally with the Baltimore Ravens from 2002-2005 and extended his NFL career with San Francisco in 2006, brings a wealth of coaching experience to Valdosta State. His most recent experience came at West Georgia, where he served as a special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. During the 2014 season, he helped lead the Wolves to an impressive playoff run that included an appearance in the NCAA Division II Football semifinal contest.
"[Williams] was an excellent special teams coach at West Georgia," said Head Coach David Dean on Wednesday. "Having an opportunity to coach against [Williams], we were able to see the passion that his players played with. That, combined with his NFL experience and the knowledge he's gained from where all he has been and the people that he has coached with are all factors that I think will be very beneficial for our program."
His years prior to UWG included graduate assistant coaching positions with two different Division I programs, beginning with Jacksonville State in 2012 before moving to Middle Tennessee State in 2013. His coaching career began at Wenonah High School quickly after the conclusion of his NFL career and was then followed by a linebacker and defensive coaching position at Morehouse.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to join a program with the type of tradition that Valdosta State has, and I'm eager to build on that legacy," said Williams. "The team is built on a strong foundation, and in this transition, I think we will bring a lot of excitement to Titletown. VSU is the premier Division II destination when you talk about a quality education along with great facilities and a championship program. This is a very special place, and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Williams earned a Coaching and Sports Administration degree at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he also became a two-time All-Conference safety. During his aforementioned professional career, he played in 79 games while notching 164 tackles, nine interceptions, three touchdowns, seven sacks, and 25 passes deflected.
"I love his demeanor," added Dean. "After talking with him on the phone and sitting down and talking to him face to face, I love his attitude. What he's going to bring to the table as far as his approach to how he coaches players and handles them both on and off the field is going to be a perfect fit for us."
Press Release Courtesy of Valdosta State Athletics
