July 22, 2010
Notre Dame, Ind. – University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse coach Tracy Coyne announced today that Nick Williams has joined her staff as an assistant coach for the 2010-11 season. Williams, who served as an assistant coach last season at Towson University, replaces Meredith Simon `04, who resigned at the end of June. Simon had served for three years as an assistant on Coyne’s staff from 2007 through 2010.
Last year, in his first season as an assistant at Towson, Williams helped the Tigers’ women’s team to a 13-3 overall record, a first-ever at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament and a final ranking of seventh in the nation, the highest ranking in the school’s history. At Towson, Williams served as the goalie coach with Tiger goalkeeper, Mary Teeters, earning second team all-conference honors. Assisting with both the offense and defense, he coached the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) player of the year, three first team all-CAA picks, two second team choices and two all-rookie selections during the 2010 campaign.
In naming Williams to her staff, Coyne said, “I love Nick’s multi-sport background. The fact that he played football and men’s lacrosse at a Division I program was impressive. He has a great work ethic and knowledge of the game. His background will bring a fresh perspective to our program.”
Coyne added, “In the interviewing process, Nick made a connection with the University that showed me he understands the Notre Dame culture. I really like his football background. There are a lot of things about the way football approaches their sport that we can pull from to make our program better. He is totally committed to winning and came highly recommended by everyone that I spoke to. What resounded most was the endorsement of Nick’s character. That might be the most important trait for any coach who comes to work at Notre Dame. I really believe that he and Crysti Foote will work well together.”
With the Irish, Williams will oversee the defense and work with the team’s goalkeepers while also assisting with recruiting, scouting opponents and camps and clinics.
“This is a fantastic opportunity,” said the 25-year old Williams. “I think any true competitor wants to compete at the highest level and Notre Dame is the highest level. I just want to come here and do a good job and help the program take the next step – winning a national championship.”
“I feel the best thing that I can offer the program is a different perspective,” said Williams. “Bringing the guys game into it along with the football aspect of film study and breaking things down to the finest detail. It’s not something that is lacking but it just puts a different twist on things. With me being here, maybe we can throw a few wrinkles out there that teams haven’t seen and aren’t ready for.”
A two-sport athlete at Towson University, Williams graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in sports management. A four-year member of the Tigers’ men’s lacrosse team, Williams played 61 career games and helped Towson to a pair of CAA championships. He scored 29 goals with 22 assists in his career, including a career-best, four-goal game against Cornell in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
The Baltimore, Md., native also was a football standout at Towson and is the fifth-leading rusher in school history with 1,985 yards during his career. As a sophomore, Williams rushed for 911 yards in 11 games, including a career-high 169 yards in a win over Delaware. He was a third team all-Atlantic 10 selection at running back following his sophomore year.
Williams also picked up coaching experience in both sports as he served as an assistant coach of the women’s lacrosse team at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., during the spring of 2009 where he worked with the offensive attack and served as the school’s recruiting coordinator. He followed that with a season as the running backs coach at his high school alma mater – Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore – during the fall of 2009.