Northwest Missouri State University head men’s basketball coach Matt Keeley has announced the hiring of Braxton Williams as an assistant coach for the Bearcats.
Prior to arriving in Maryville, Williams spent this past year at Pittsburg State University. He helped coach the Gorillas to a 21-11 season that resulted in a trip to the MIAA Tournament Championship and the school’s first NCAA Division II National Tournament since 2015.
A West Plains, Mo., native, Williams began his coaching career at the NAIA level as a graduate assistant and developmental team coach at Ottawa University – Arizona, for two seasons under Keeley. Williams helped Ottawa to a 25-9 record in 2021-22 as the Spirit claimed the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament Championship and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
During the 2022-23 season Williams served as an assistant coach at NJCAA DI Missouri State University-West Plains where they made an appearance in the Region XVI Tournament.
Williams also served as a player development coach/trainer for Playmakers Basketball in Phoenix, Ariz. Where he helped with the pre-draft workouts and offseason programs. He helped coach and train a host of NBA players and overseas players including the likes of Deandre Ayton (Portland Trailblazers), Alex Len (Sacramento Kings), Rudy Gay (17-year NBA veteran), Eric Bledsoe (12-year NBA veteran), Matt Thomas (Alba Berlin), and Mike Daum (Crvena Zvezda).
Williams played at NJCAA North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, for three years where he earned all-conference accolades his sophomore season. Williams competed collegiately at Northeastern State University for his last two years. He was a team captain for the RiverHawks as a senior in 2016-17.
Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in health & human performance from NSU in December 2017. He earned a master’s degree in business leadership from Ottawa University-Arizona in April 2022.
Williams and his wife, Mary Jane live in Maryville with their dog, Stanley.
