Dale Williams, an eighteen-year collegiate coaching veteran, serves as WKU's offensive line coach, joining the staff in February 2016.
Williams' previous collegiate coaching stops include Florida Atlantic from 2005 to 2011 where he previously worked with Brohm and for head coach Howard Schnellenberger for seven years, as well as the University of Findlay where he served as offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 2000 to 2004, the final three seasons serving as offensive coordinator.
During his time at FAU, Williams was a part of a coaching staff that helped transform the Owls into an FBS bowl competitor, when, in 2007, the Owls were co-Sun Belt Conference Champions and won their first bowl game in their first-ever appearance, a 44-27 victory in the New Orleans Bowl. The following season, the Owls won five of their final six games to go on to win the 2008 Motor City Bowl. Williams' offensive line played a major role in that surge as the line finished No. 13 and No. 15, respectively, in Sacks Allowed and helped quarterback Rusty Smith go on to win Sun Belt Player of the Year honors in 2007. Three of Williams' offensive linemen, John Rizzo, Jarrid Smith and David Matlock, went on to earn All-Sun Belt accolades.
Williams' line also helped create the first-ever 1,000-yard running back in FAU history in Charles Pierre, who rushed for 1,009 yards in 2008, averaging over six yards per carry. The line repeated that performance in 2009, leading the way for current Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris to run for a second-consecutive school record with 1,392 yards in 2009. Morris capped his career in 2010 with another near 1,000-yard performance, going for 928 in 2010 behind Williams' offensive front.
At Findlay, Williams was a part of a 2002 team that finished the year ranked No. 25 nationally with a 9-2 mark, led by running back Robert Campbell's 1,564 rushing yards. Williams' offensive line also allowed just 15 sacks that season. In 2004, Findlay averaged 246.6 yards on the ground and allowed just 18 sacks while blocking for another 1,500-yard rusher in Michael Simpson who rushed for a then-school record 1,659 yards while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Williams also coached numerous Oilers to All-GLIAC honors, including first teamer Brad Dunlap (2002), second teamers Ken Meibers (2001), Phil Gunder (2003) and Mike Patrick (2004), along with eight other honorable mention performers in just five seasons.
Prior to Findlay, Williams spent three seasons, from 1997 to 1999, coaching the offensive line at Gardner-Webb following two seasons at North Greenville College. Williams got his start in the coaching profession during a three-year stint as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, West Virginia.
Since 2012, Williams has coached at Lake Worth High School and Olympic Heights High School as an assistant and head coach as well as in private business.
Williams was a three-year letterman and a two-year starter for the Mountainers and was named the team's best lineman during its run to the 1994 Sugar Bowl. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from WVU in 1994 and 1996, respectively.
Williams and his wife, Wendi, have two children, Nicole and Dominick.
THE DALE WILLIAMS FILE
PERSONAL
Born: December 4, 1970
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
College: West Virginia, `94
Wife: Wendi
Children: Nicole, Dominick
PLAYING CAREER (Offensive Line)
High School: St. Ignatius, `89
College: West Virginia, 1989-93
AFL: Cleveland Thunderbolts, 1994
COACHING CAREER
1994-96: West Virginia (Graduate Assistant)
1996-97: North Greenville College (Offensive Line)
1997-99: Gardner-Webb (Offensive Line)
2000-02: Findlay (Offensive Line)
2002-04: Findlay (Offensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2005-11: Florida Atlantic (Offensive Line)
