Richard Williams (basketball coach)

Last updated
Richard Williams
Current position
TitleSpecial Assistant to the Head Coach
Team Southern Miss
Conference C-USA
Biographical details
Bornc.1944-1945
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Alma mater Mississippi State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1984–1986 Mississippi State (assistant)
1986–1998Mississippi State
2001 Memphis Houn'Dawgs
2003 Pearl HS
2004Jackson Rage
2008–2009 UAB (DBO)
2009 Louisiana Tech (DBO)
2010–2014 Arkansas State (assistant)
2020 Southern Miss (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall191–163 (college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NCAA Division I Regional – Final Four (1996)
SEC tournament (1996)
Awards
SEC Coach of the Year (1991, 1995)

Richard Williams (born 1945) is a former American basketball coach. Currently,[ when? ] he serves as special assistant to the head coach at Southern Miss. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Early life

Williams was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi and attended Mississippi State University as a freshman in 1963. [4] [5] Williams began his coaching career as a volunteer coach for seventh grade basketball while working as a math teacher. He worked in a variety of positions in coaching in schools such as Montelbello Junior High and South Natchez. He served as a part-time coach on the staff of Bob Boyd beginning in 1984. [6]

Coaching career

Williams was hired in March 1986. [7] He served as the head men's basketball coach at Mississippi State University through the 1997–98 season, [8] compiling a record of 191–163. His 191 victories are the second most of any head coach in Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball program, history, bested only by his former assistant, Rick Stansbury. Williams's 1991 squad won the Southeastern Conference regular season championship and made the 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for the first time since 1963 and just second time in school history, where they lost in the first round to Eastern Michigan.

During his tenure, the Bulldogs beat Kentucky for the first time in school history, doing so in the 1994-95 season. [9] His 1995 squad made the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, but his 1996 squad would go further. The Bulldogs won the 1996 SEC men's basketball tournament with an 84-73 victory over Kentucky (who had not lost an SEC game all season) to win their first SEC title and first overall conference tournament since 1923. Playing as a 5 seed in the Southeast Region of the Division I tournament, they beat 12-seed VCU 58–51 and 13-seed Princeton 63–41 to face the #1 seed Connecticut in the Sweet Sixteen. They won 60–55 to set their first Elite Eight matchup against #2 seed Cincinnati. They beat the Bearcats 73-63 to win the Regional championship. In the Final Four, they were matched against Syracuse, who beat them 77–69. [10] The team was the first (and currently only) team from the state of Mississippi to reach the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Tournament. He received two SEC Coach of the Year awards.

On March 12, 1998, Williams resigned as the head coach at Mississippi State two years removed from his Final Four appearance, citing burnout. [11] [12]

After leaving Mississippi State, Williams coached the Memphis Houn'Dawgs of the American Basketball Association (ABA), the Jackson Rage of the World Basketball Association (WBA), and at his alma mater, Pearl High School in Pearl, Mississippi. He served as the director of basketball administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 2008 and in 2009 he was named the director of basketball administration and program coordinator for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team on a volunteer basis. Williams was an assistant coach for Arkansas State under John Brady from 2010 to 2014. Williams served as the color commentator for the Mississippi State basketball team's radio broadcasts from the 2014–15 season through the 2019–2020 season.[ citation needed ]

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Mississippi State Bulldogs (Southeastern Conference)(1986–1998)
1986–87 Mississippi State 7–213–1510th
1987–88 Mississippi State 14–156–1210th
1988–89 Mississippi State 13–157–118th
1989–90 Mississippi State 16–147–11T–8th NIT second round
1990–91 Mississippi State 20–913–5T–2nd NCAA Division I Round of 64
1991–92 Mississippi State 15–137–94th (West)
1992–93 Mississippi State 13–165–115th (West)
1993–94 Mississippi State 18–119–73rd (West) NIT first round
1994–95 Mississippi State 22–812–4T–1st (West) NCAA Division I Sweet 16
1995–96 Mississippi State 26–810–6T–1st (West) NCAA Division I Final Four
1996–97 Mississippi State 12–186–10T–3rd (West)
1997–98 Mississippi State 15–154–125th (West)
Mississippi State:191–16389–113
Total:191–163

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Donovan</span> American professional basketball coach

William John Donovan Jr. is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Chicago Bulls of the NBA. Before moving to the NBA, he served as the head basketball coach at the University of Florida from 1996 to 2015, and led his Florida Gator teams to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007, as well as an NCAA championship appearance in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Howland</span> American basketball coach (born 1957)

Benjamin Clark Howland is an American college basketball coach who most recently served as the men's head coach at Mississippi State University from to 2015 to 2022. He served as the head men's basketball coach at Northern Arizona University from 1994 to 1999, the University of Pittsburgh from 1999 to 2003, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) from 2003 to 2013. Howland became the first men's coach in modern college basketball history to be fired shortly after winning an outright power-conference title. He is one of the few NCAA Division I coaches to take four teams to the NCAA tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryce Drew</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1974)

Bryce Homer Drew is an American college basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Grand Canyon Antelopes. Previously he served as the head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores and in the same capacity at his alma mater, Valparaiso, having succeeded his father, Homer Drew. Drew has led his teams to the NCAA tournament on six occasions, including at least once at each of the three schools where he has been the head coach.

Hugh Nelson Durham is a retired American basketball coach. He was head coach at Florida State, Georgia, and Jacksonville. He is the only head coach to have led two different programs to their first Final Four appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Babe McCarthy</span>

James Harrison "Babe" McCarthy, was an American professional and collegiate basketball coach. McCarthy was originally from Baldwyn, Mississippi. McCarthy may best be remembered for Mississippi State's appearance in the 1963 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament when his all-white team sneaked out of town in order to face Loyola University Chicago, which had four black starters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thad Matta</span> American basketball coach (born 1967)

Thad Michael Matta is an American college basketball coach who is currently in his second stint as head coach of the Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team, having been head coach of the Bulldogs for the 2000–01 season. From 2004 to 2017, Matta led the Ohio State Buckeyes to five Big Ten Conference regular season championships, four Big Ten tournament titles, two Final Four appearances, and the 2008 NIT Championship. He is the winningest coach in Ohio State history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Pearl</span> American basketball coach (born 1960)

Bruce Alan Pearl is an American college basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball team. He previously served in the same position for Tennessee, Milwaukee, and Southern Indiana. Pearl led Southern Indiana to a Division II national championship in 1995, during which he was named Division II Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

John Emmett Brady is an American college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Arkansas State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi State Bulldogs</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the Mississippi State University

Mississippi State Bulldogs is the name given to the athletic teams of Mississippi State University, in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The university is a founding member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Stansbury</span> American college basketball coach

Richard Lee Stansbury, is an American college basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach at the University of Memphis. He was most recently the head coach at Western Kentucky from 2016 to 2023. He was also the head coach at Mississippi State from 1998 to 2012. He is a member of the Campbellsville University Athletics Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball</span> Mens College Basketball team

The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I men's basketball. The program plays in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In the conference it trails only long-time basketball powerhouse Kentucky in SEC tournament titles, is third behind Kentucky and Arkansas in total wins, and is third behind Kentucky and Tennessee in SEC regular season conference titles. Alabama was retroactively recognized as the pre-NCAA tournament national champion for the 1929–30 season by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. The team has appeared in the NCAA tournament 24 times, most recently in 2024, and has made ten Sweet Sixteens, two Elite Eights, and one Final Four in the tournament. Alabama's current head coach is Nate Oats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators men's basketball</span> Team representing the University of Florida in basketball

The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in NCAA Division I's Southeastern Conference (SEC). Home games are played in the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kermit Davis</span> American basketball coach

Kermit John Davis Jr. is an American college basketball coach who was most recently the head coach for the Ole Miss Rebels from 2018 to 2023. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Middle Tennessee for 16 seasons. His head coaching experience also includes brief stops at Idaho (twice) and Texas A&M.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Cohen (baseball)</span> Baseball player and coach (born 1966)

John Cohen is the 16th athletic director for the Auburn University Tigers. He is former head baseball coach of Mississippi State University, where he also served as the athletic director from 2016 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Bulldogs basketball</span> Basketball team of the University of Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball program is the men's college basketball team representing the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Established in 1891, the team has competed in the Southeastern Conference since its inception in 1932. As of 2020 the Bulldogs have amassed a record of 1,434–1,319. Though it has been historically overshadowed by the school's football program, the Bulldogs' basketball squad has had its share of successes, including a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 1983 under head coach Hugh Durham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators baseball</span> Baseball team of the University of Florida

The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. Florida competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They play their home games in Condron Ballpark on the university's Gainesville, Florida, campus, and are currently led by head coach Kevin O'Sullivan. In the 105-season history of the Florida baseball program, the team has won 16 SEC championships and has appeared in 14 College World Series tournaments. The Gators won their first national championship in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike White (basketball)</span> American basketball coach (born 1977)

Michael Emerson White is an American college basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach of the University of Georgia men's basketball team. Prior to accepting the job at Georgia, White was the head coach of the Florida Gators from 2015 to 2022 and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs from 2011 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2016–17 Mississippi State Bulldogs women's basketball team represented Mississippi State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by fifth year head coach Vic Schaefer. They played their home games at Humphrey Coliseum and are members of the Southeastern Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995–96 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1995–96 Mississippi State Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Mississippi State University in the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Richard Williams, the Bulldogs won the SEC tournament and reached the Final Four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007–08 Georgia Bulldogs basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2007–08 Georgia Bulldogs basketball team represented the University of Georgia during the 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Dennis Felton, who was in his fifth season at UGA. They played their home games at Stegeman Coliseum and were members of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 17–17, 4–12 in SEC play.

References

  1. "Richard Williams - Men's Basketball Coach". Southern Miss.
  2. "O'Neil: From Final Four to Sun Belt, Williams coaches on". ESPN.com. September 26, 2011.
  3. "Putting a cap on Mississippi State can be a difficult thing". March 25, 1996.
  4. "MISSISSIPPI ST. FINALLY BURIES RACIST PAST". March 27, 1996.
  5. Cotton, Anthony (6 December 1996). "MISSISSIPPI STATE IN A DOG DAZE". Washington Post. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  6. Fame, Mississippi Sports Hall of (July 23, 2014). "Class of 2014: The Richard Williams story".
  7. "MSU Assistant Gets Top Job". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. Associated Press. March 20, 1986. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  8. "Williams retires as Mississippi State coach". Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. March 13, 1998. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  9. "25 Years Later: Reliving Mississippi State's Historic Final Four Run - by Torsheta Jackson". 2 April 2021.
  10. "Orangemen's late surge buries Bulldogs, 77-69". The Robesonian. Associated Press. March 31, 1996. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  11. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2003/04/05/for-richard-williams-success-took-a-heavy-toll/d4321475-7ad1-41c7-a7bf-2a849811bfc3/
  12. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/03/13/two-years-after-final-four-mississippi-st-coach-retires/%3foutputType=amp