Mark W. Williams

Mark W. Williams
Sport(s) College football
Current position
Team Carroll (WI)
Biographical details
Born May 31, 1925
West Hartford, Connecticut
Died October 25, 2013 (aged 88)
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Playing career
1945-1948 Hobart
Position(s) end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978-1981 Carroll (WI)
Head coaching record
Overall 12-24-0

Mark W. Williams (May 31, 1925 October 25, 2013) was a US Army Ranger and participant in D-Day. After a successful business career, he entered sports to be an American football coach at the college level and currently is an associate professor emeritus of Business Administration at Carroll University.[1]

Military service

Williams is a former US Army Ranger. He participated in what is considered to be one of the most dangerous missions of D-Day when he and other Rangers climbed the 100-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc near Omaha Beach, facing heavy German defenses at the top.[2]

American football

Playing history

Williams played college football at Hobart College in Geneva, New York. He also was able to complete two separate tryouts for the upstart "old" Baltimore Colts but did not make the professional team.[3] Williams graduated from Hobart in 1949 and then went on to study sociology at New York University until 1951 and later would complete a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.[4]

Coaching history

After leaving a successful career in business[5] and making nationwide headlines, Williams took a significant pay cut with a major change in personal lifestyle to become a collegiate head football coach.[6]

Williams became the 25th head college football coach for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers (now called Carroll University)[7] located in Waukesha, Wisconsin and he held that position for four seasons, from 1978 until 1981. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 12 wins, 24 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him tenth at Carroll College in total wins and 20th at Carroll College in winning percentage.[8]

Death

Williams died at his home on October 25, 2013.[9]

References

  1. Carroll University 2006-2007 Course Catalog
  2. Carroll University "Carroll College professor will be part of West Point event" April 1, 2003
  3. The Spokesman-Review "New Coach Gave Up Big Pay" September 21, 1978
  4. The Milwaukee Sentinel "Carroll's Williams Markets Football Now" by Jill Lieber August 19, 1978
  5. NBC Evening News "From Business to Coaching" by David Brinkley, September 13. 1978
  6. Los Angeles Times Archives "An Offer He Could Refuse--But Didn't" September 28, 1978
  7. Daily Herald "Rookie Coach Finds Career Switch Easy" September 22, 1978
  8. Carroll College/University Football coaching records
  9. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?pid=168204297