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David Williams
David Williams recently concluded his fifth season as head coach of the Presbyterian College softball program in the spring of 2023. He became the ninth coach in PC softball history after taking over the program in June of 2018, collecting an overall record of 103-104-2 during his time in Clinton.
Since assuming the role, Williams has monitored three All-Big South first team selections and 12 all-leaguers overall. A player under his wing has won a Big South weekly honor on 20 separate occasions, 13 of which have occurred within the past two campaigns.
Williams needed only five seasons to become the all-time wins leader for the Blue Hose in the school's 17-year Division I history, surpassing the triple-digit tab by picking up his 100th PC victory on April 15, 2023 (a 7-2 result against Winthrop).
His '23 squad authored a never-before-seen start by going 12-0 after two weeks, the program's second-longest winning streak in history. The first 10 of those triumphs were all on the team's home base, remaining one of just four undefeated clubs in the country at the time they took their first loss.
Williams' 2023 group particularly excelled in the circle, acquiring 278 strikeouts (second in a sole year in program history), along with 30 complete games, seven shutouts, and an ERA of 3.00 which amounted to 17 home wins (also second-most of any team since the D-I era began in 2007).
After steadily building the program over his first three seasons at the helm, Williams guided the Blue Hose to arguably their greatest season as an NCAA Division I member in 2022. Breaking numerous team and individual records, Presbyterian achieved 36 overall wins and 19 victories inside of Big South play, both the highest figures recorded by the program in the D-I era.
Tallying a program-best 14-game winning streak that stretched from mid-February to early-March en route to an appearance in the Big South Conference Tournament's Semifinal round, Presbyterian's 2022 roster either tied or set 12 separate records in Williams' fourth campaign. Putting together a collective batting average of .297 next to a .363 on-base percentage and .466 slugging mark, the Blue Hose racked up 603 total bases and 227 RBI during the record-breaking year. Leading the Big South with 47 home runs, PC produced 235 scores over the season behind 384 total hits and 70 doubles. The pitching core was just as impressive in '22, striking out 401 batters alongside 15 shutouts, each of which are new program bests for a single year.
A whopping six players earned Big South Conference postseason honors in 2022 (the most all-time in PC history), led by an all-conference First Team selection from outfielder Jaiden Tweed and first baseman Jillian Hewes. Second baseman Kaitlyn Tucker and designated player / pitcher Morgan Hess were named all-league Second Team in the record-setting season, with the latter also earning a spot on the Big South's All-Freshman squad. Catcher Lath Freeman and shortstop Layna Johnson garnered an Honorable Mention nod from the conference for their work throughout the year. For their efforts in helping PC reach the conference tourney semi's, Freeman and Hess landed spots on the Big South All-Tournament team.
The 2021 season saw Presbyterian notch seven Big South wins, their most since the 2017 campaign. The Blue Hose were led by a pitching staff which owned the top ERA (2.77) and opponents' batting average (.215) in the Big South for the second straight year. Lefty Haley Haselden became the first PC pitcher to earn an All-Conference selection (Second Team) since 2016. The Blue Hose also netted the first two Big South Freshman of the Week awards in program history (Jillian Hewes and Kaitlyn Tucker), with Tucker also earning a spot on the league's All-Freshman Team.
In 2020, Williams guided the Blue Hose to a five-win improvement over the prior campaign, despite the season getting cut short prior to the beginning of conference play. Presbyterian owned a 16-8 record, and its .667 winning percentage was on pace to be the best in the program's DI era, before the remainder of the season was canceled by the Big South (COVID-19).
The Blue Hose pitching staff boasted the best ERA (2.02) and opponents' batting average (.187) in the conference, and led the Big South with nine shutouts. Presbyterian's 2.02 ERA ranked 30th nationally, while its nine shutouts tied for eighth. The staff was led by freshman Jenna Greene, a three-time Big South Pitcher of the Week selection, who led the conference in ERA (1.24), wins (13), complete games (15), shutouts (6), innings pitched (107.0), strikeouts (128) and opponents' batting average (.147). Greene's 13 wins tied for second nationally, her six shutouts tied for third and her 128 strikeouts tied for ninth. Her strikeout and shutout totals also set single-season DI era program records.
During his first season at the helm of the Blue Hose in 2019, Williams guided Presbyterian to a seven-win improvement over the previous campaign. Following the season, PC's Jonnie Petree was selected Second Team All-Big South and Kiley Kross earned a spot on the conference's All-Freshman Team.
In 13 seasons as a head coach prior to coming to PC, Williams amassed a 336-323-1 overall record. He coached one All-American, one Academic All-American, seven All-Region selections, 14 All-Conference selections, one South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year, one South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year, five Academic All-Region selections and two South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year honorees.
Williams spent seven years as the head softball coach at Morehead State. The Greensboro, N.C., native led the Eagles to Ohio Valley Conference tournament appearances in five of his last six seasons.
The Eagles had five seasons with more than 22 wins during his tenure, and posted a winning record in each of his last two years for the first time since 2010. Five players earned OVC All-Conference honors over his last three seasons. MSU was successful in the classroom as well, with his teams never registering under a 3.3 GPA, and carrying a combined GPA of at least 3.4 the last four years.
In 2018, the Eagles finished with 28 wins and an upset win over Southeast Missouri State in the OVC Tournament. The 28 wins were the most for the program since the 2009 season.
He coached Chelsea McManaway, who was seventh in the nation in strikeouts in 2018 and third in the nation in shutouts in 2017. In 2013, the Eagles finished with the 22nd-best batting average in the nation.
Williams led the softball program at Mars Hill for six seasons and saw unprecedented success. The Lions had five consecutive winning seasons and earned a trip to the NCAA Division II Regionals in 2010. While leading the Lions, Williams earned 2007 South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honors. His 2007, 2008 and 2010 teams finished the year ranked among the top-10 in the region. In 2010, his Mars Hill team ranked second in the nation in defense.
All six of his Mars Hill teams combined for 3.0 grade point averages or better. His 2010 team posted a 3.54 mark to rank as the highest GPA of any team sport in the SAC.
Prior to leading Mars Hill, Williams spent three seasons as the head softball coach at Western Guilford High School in Greensboro, N.C. He also led the North Carolina Sun Devils 18-and-under travel softball team.
Williams, who graduated from Guilford College with a degree in management, played baseball at Belmont Abbey (N.C.) in 1996 and 1997 and Emory and Henry (Va.) in 1998.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have one daughter, Adley, and two sons, Brantley and Berkley.
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