After guiding the Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball program to a number one national ranking during the 2012-13 season, Isaac Williams has moved on to pursue other opportunities.

Williams led the Mountaineers to their best season in school history, winning 28 of their 33 games; the most wins in a single season in the program’s 84-year history. He was recognized by his peers as the Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year, following a share of the regular season conference title. EOU opened the season winning its first 14 consecutive contests, another program-best.

“It’s hard to put into words what the EOU team, university and community have meant to me and my family.” Williams said. “Since moving to La Grande in 1995 as a student-athlete, the people here have watched me grow from student-athlete, to La Grande High School assistant, all the way to head coach of the Mountaineers. Each step of that journey was as enjoyable as the previous one because of all the support I received.”

Williams was integral in the turnaround of Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball. He was the top assistant under Ryan Looney during a 4-22 season in 2004-05. The Mountaineers followed the season with a 17-11 year, then five straight 20-win campaigns, including his first year as head coach in 2009-10. The 2010-11 team won 26 games, the second-most amount of wins since the program started in 1929. During his four-year tenure as head coach at EOU, Williams boasted a 96-32 record. His 75-percent win percentage is the best in program history.

“Ike is the ideal coach for a university,” EOU President Bob Davies said. “He recruits and supports great young men who are true student-athletes. They competed extremely well on the court, their performance in classroom was stellar, and they were incredible ambassadors for our community. Ike made a lasting legacy at EOU as a coach, as a player, and as a student. We wish him well in this, the next step in his career, and we will miss his outstanding leadership–on the court and at our university."

Eastern Oregon has advanced to the NAIA Div. II National Championships in each of the past six seasons, a feat only shared by eight other schools in the country. While coaching at EOU, Williams has been a part of 191 victories. He has also played a part in winning or sharing three Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season championships.

Since 2004, the Mountaineers have had 13 first team All-Conference performers, and three All-Americans. But more importantly, nine EOU student-athletes earned Academic All-American status and the team has maintained a 3.0 GPA.

“As excited as I am for Isaac and this opportunity, I am saddened at the loss of a great coach, colleague, and friend,” Eastern Interim Athletic Director Anji Weissenfluh said. “Over the past years I have had the opportunity to work closely with Isaac and he is truly one of a kind. He holds himself to high standards and has those same expectations of his teams. His teams always perform well on the court, in the classroom, and in the community and that is a testament to Isaac’s high standards. He is an amazing ambassador to EOU and his presence within the athletic department will be missed. I want to wish Isaac and his family the very best of luck as they begin this next chapter of their lives.”

A 2000 graduate of Eastern Oregon, Williams had four successful seasons as the girls Head Coach at La Grande High School. He led the Tigers to the OSAA Class 3A State Tournament three times before rejoining his alma mater. After a state runner-up finish after the 2001-02 season, Williams was named The Oregonian newspaper’s Class 3A Coach of the Year.

Williams’ final day at EOU will be June 14. He and his fiancée, Angie Abel, are the proud parents of a son, Isaiah.

“Eastern Oregon University is a special place and the players who put on that uniform are special people,” Williams said. “I wish I could take time to thank everyone who helped and supported me personally but that would be impossible.”

“While I may be moving on to other ventures, my heart will always be in La Grande, and I will always be a Mountaineer.”

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