John Williams begins his second season as head coach of the Spring Arbor University women's basketball team in 2023-24.
Williams is no stranger to Spring Arbor. The SAU alum ('05) and former student-athlete has served as an Assistant Professor of Education from 2017-19, and as the university's Dean of the School of Education since 2019, while also spending a year on the sidelines as the lead assistant for the women's basketball team in 2017-18.
In his season with the Cougars, Williams was involved in all facets of the program, specifically strength training, recruiting, guard position work, and scouting. During that season, one of the guards, Autumn Goggin, eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark, tied the program's single-game scoring record, and earned All-Crossroads League Honorable Mention honors, while another guard, Anne Marie Wright, was named to the Crossroads League All-Freshmen Team.
Williams brings a wealth of knowledge and coaching experience to the position with more than 13 years at the high school and AAU levels. Most recently, he was the varsity girls head coach at Homer High School. While at Homer, he recognized the need for early introduction to the sport and developed girls leagues for elementary students, created a summer skills camp, trained volunteer coaches and cultivated an early love for basketball. Under his direction, the entire program now focuses on the same concepts, drills and vocabulary to foster player development.
Prior to Homer, Williams spent two seasons as the JV boy's head coach and assistant varsity coach at Addison High School, as well as three seasons as the varsity girl's head coach at Addison. He has coached AAU and travel basketball teams (12U-16U) for boys and girls in Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale counties.
Williams' mission with his teams is to instill Christian virtues while mastering fundamental basketball skills, compete at the highest level in an honorable way, and to have his players pursue excellence in everything they do.
"We are already assembling a dynamic staff," stated Williams. "I am excited to lead SAU women's basketball as a program of excellence on the court and in the classroom, where all the glory, honor, and praise go to Jesus Christ, our Lord."
Williams earned his Bachelor's ('05) and Master's ('09) degrees from Spring Arbor University. He received his post-graduate certificate in K-12 Administration from Eastern Michigan University ('11). He has completed all coursework for his doctorate at Trevecca Nazarene University and hopes to finish his dissertation in the near future.
Williams and his wife, Carrie, reside in Spring Arbor with their young son, Milo.
