John Williams begins his third season as head coach of the Spring Arbor University women's basketball team in 2024-25.
Williams has enjoyed the success of the program in the past two seasons. Taking over a team that had four wins the previous season, he led the program to 19 wins in his first season and 24 in his second season.
The 2022-23 season proved to be the best season in close to 20 years for the women’s basketball team, and the best Crossroads League record since joining the conference, highlighted by a win over the No. 6 team in the country. That season, the Cougars were picked to finish 10th in the Crossroads League preseason poll and finished the campaign ranked fifth. Williams’ team boast six NAIA Scholar-Athletes, one NAIA All-American (HM), one All-Crossroads League First Team selection, one All-Crossroads League Second Team selection, two All-Crossroads League Honorable Mentions, one Crossroads League All-Defensive team pick, and the Crossroads League Newcomer of the Year. The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) named Williams the College Coach of the Year.
Building on that early success, the Cougars went 24-8 in Williams’ second season. The team was picked fifth in the Crossroads League preseason poll and finished third. In the 2023-24 season, the Cougars earned an at-large bid to the NAIA national tournament where they upset eighth-seed Langston (Okla.) in the first round. In the next round, Williams’ squad would fall to the the eventual national champions, Dordt (Iowa). Out of the team’s eight losses on the season, six were to teams that earned No. 1 seeds in the NAIA national tournament. At the end of the year, Williams had nine NAIA Scholar-Athletes, one NAIA All-American, two All-Crossroads League First Team selections, one All-Crossroads League Honorable Mention, one named to the Crossroads League All-Defensive team, and one named to the Crossroads League All-Freshman team. The Cougars had a team GPA of 3.6.
Under the leadership of Coach Williams, the Cougars have a foundation rooted in J.O.Y. (Jesus, Others, Yourself) and UBUNTU (I am because we are). Every player is challenged to play with SOUL (Selflessness, Ownership, Unity, and Larger Purpose). “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” ~Matthew 16:26
