St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the John M. Schael Director of Athletics Anthony J. Azama and track and field Head Coach Jeff Stiles have announced the hiring of Ray Williams as the interim assistant track and field coach for the 2022-23 school year.
"It is our joy to add Ray Williams to the WashU family," said Stiles. "Coming from the same coaching tree at North Central College, we are philosophically aligned. The athletes are in for a treat, they will be getting a coach who is passionate, hardworking and will bring out their best. Ray loves young people and track and field. This is a simple recipe that will truly impact the lives around him. I became a better coach the day Ray agreed to come to WashU."
Williams comes to WashU following a brief stint at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, where he served as the assistant women's cross country and track and field coach. While there, he was the academic liaison and recruited both domestically and internationally. Additionally, Williams developed, organized and implemented a strength program and all practice sessions for sprints, hurdles and relays.
Prior to his time at UNLV, Williams was an assistant men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Texas State University. In addition to recruiting and developing a strength program there, he also served as a facilitator for student-athlete development and diversity and inclusion, maintained the majority of the team's total operating budget and served as the meet director for all home meets.
Williams began his coaching career at the University of Chicago in 1997 and has since had stops at Western Michigan University, the University of Detroit-Mercy, Marquette University, Grand Valley State University, the University of Mississippi, Lincoln University, Texas State and UNLV.
Williams completed his degree in Sociology at North Central in 1995 and went on to earn his master's degree in Education, College Student Affairs Leadership in 2009 from Grand Valley State.
Williams begins his duties at WashU on Monday, August 1.
