Saluki Athletics names Grant Williams Women’s Soccer head coach

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University announced on Monday that Grant Williams will become the first women’s soccer head coach in school history, as the newly created program prepares for competition in the fall of 2019 and entry into the Missouri Valley Conference in 2020.

   Grant WilliamsA Division I assistant for 13 years, including the past six seasons at Evansville, Williams has coached 47 All-Conference players throughout his career, plus four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. During his tenure at Evansville, the Purple Aces won two conference championships and advanced to the 2015 NCAA Tournament. The program also made three appearances in the championship match of the MVC Tournament.

“Coach Williams is someone who has all the skills necessary to build a program from scratch,” said SIU’s acting director of athletics Jerry Kill. “He is a proven recruiter, a skilled administrator, and an excellent teacher and motivator. He is someone who will come in and embrace the culture of southern Illinois and build a Division I soccer program the right way.”

As an assistant at Evansville, Williams oversaw recruiting, scouting reports, travel, fitness testing and team building. He also shared responsibilities with practice and game-planning, scheduling and summer camps. The Purple Aces have won numerous conference awards the last six seasons — 24 All-Conference players, 11 All-Freshman team selections, three Goalkeeper of the Year awards, plus 14 All-Tournament selections and 12 All-Scholar team picks.

In his first season with the Aces, Williams was part of the 2012 MVC Coaching Staff of the Year. Three Aces were named to the All-MVC First Team, including MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Simone Busby and MVC Freshman of the Year Abby Springer.  Under his direction, the 2012 squad led the Valley with a 0.32 goals against average and four shutouts in league play.

“I couldn’t be happier for Grant; he is of the highest caliber character you will find in college athletics,” said Evansville head coach Krista McKendree. “SIU could not have found someone who wants this job more, and Grant and his wife, Elaine, will be excellent stewards of the entire athletics department. I am very thankful for the six years he dedicated to the Aces and am thrilled he has the opportunity to be a head coach.”

Prior to Evansville, Williams coached three seasons at Eastern Illinois, during which time the Panthers produced 10 All-Conference players and a pair of CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. His first Division I job was at his alma mater, Western Kentucky, where he served four seasons from 2006-09. The Hilltoppers posted a 40-13-7 record during that span, won a regular-season Sun Belt Conference title in 2007 and had 13 All-Conference players, one Player of the Year, and one Academic All-American.

“I would like to thank Chancellor (Carlo) Montemango, Coach Kill, and everyone that has been involved in the process that has brought me to Carbondale,” Williams said. “To start a program is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am humbled by the trust and faith that has been placed in me to be the program’s first head coach. The support and passion for SIU Athletics was evident from the moment I arrived on campus and I couldn’t be happier to now be a part of it.”

Williams holds a United States Soccer Federation National “B” Coaching License. He also earned an NSCAA Regional Goalkeeping diploma in 2006. In 2010 and 2011, Williams worked camps at the University of Illinois, Notre Dame, and Penn State. Williams served as the assistant director of Southern Kentucky Soccer (2004-07), a staff coach in the Kentucky ODP program (2003-04, 2007) and a head coach in the SKY Soccer club (2002-07). He also worked with boys’ varsity and junior varsity teams at Bowling Green High School from 2000-05 after volunteering during the 1997-98 school year. Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from WKU in 2004 and was a three-time President’s Scholar.

“Like most, I’ve caught a few breaks and had a tremendous amount of help in getting to this point in my coaching career,” Williams said. “The list of those I would like to thank is too long but I would like to recognize Evansville’s AD Mark Spencer and head coach Krista McKendree for their support and help in my pursuit of this opportunity, as well as, the unwavering faith and encouragement of my wife, Elaine, to chase my dreams.”