Following up on a rumor that HoopDirt.com posted earlier this week (DII DIRT)…
Salem International University has hired Adam Williams, son of West Virginia Athletics Hall of Famer Tex Williams, as its new head men’s basketball coach announced Athletic Director Jamie Shoemaker Friday afternoon.
A former guard at the University of Kentucky and Marshall University, Williams comes to Salem International after a one-year stint at NCAA Division I Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia under head coach Jayson Gee. Williams helped lead the school to its highest finish in its history as a member of the Big South Conference and mentored First Team All-Big South selection Lotanna Nwogbo.
A 2009 graduate of Marshall, Williams was previously the assistant director of basketball operations at the University of Central Florida from 2012-15, and held coaching positions at West Virginia Tech from 2010-12 and Marshall in 2009-10.
“I am excited for the men’s basketball program and the potential it has to offer under Adam’s guidance,” Shoemaker said. “The student-athletes will embrace his personality and experience. His enthusiasm and demeanor on and off the court is the spark plug this program needs.”
“I am extremely honored to be named the head men’s basketball coach at Salem International University,” Williams said. “I am excited to build on this program’s tradition of success. I will work every day to represent Salem International to the best of my ability.”
“I want to thank President (Dan) Nelant, Jamie Shoemaker and the search committee for this opportunity,” he added. “I’m proud to join the Salem International family and I look forward to meeting and working with many other staff members and administrators.”
“I would also like to thank Jayson Gee for giving me the opportunity to work on his staff and continue to develop as a coach this past year.”
While at Central Florida, Williams handled the Golden Knights video coordination, team travel and summer camp programs. Prior to Central Florida, he was an assistant coach at West Virginia Tech from 2010-12, where he helped the Golden Bears to a 35-24 overall mark, including a 21-8 finish in 2011-12.
Williams began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Marshall during the 2009-10 season and helped tutor current Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside, a NBA All-Defensive selection in 2016. The Thundering Herd finished that year 24-10 overall, including an 11-5 record in Conference USA, and earned a bid to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
A native of Charleston, West Virginia, Williams had a decorated playing career at St. Albans High School where he played for his father, Tex, who is a member of the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame, the University of Charleston Athletics Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Athletics Hall of Fame.
Williams was tabbed the 2004 Bill Evans Award winner as the top high school player in West Virginia and went on to play his first season of collegiate basketball for Tubby Smith at the University of Kentucky. He appeared in eight games for the Wildcats as a freshman before playing his final three years at Marshall under Donnie Jones, where he played in 51 games with 11 starts.
He received his bachelor’s degree from Marshall in 2009 in business administration and was a 2009 Conference USA All-Academic Team honoree and earned the 2009 Conference USA Spirit of Service Award.
http://siutigerpride.com/news/2016/5/27/adam-williams-named-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
