Jesse Williams - Football Coach

Jesse Williams

Title:
Defensive Running Game Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach
Email:
jesse-williams@utulsa.edu
Phone:
918.631.2393

SECOND YEAR

A college coaching veteran of 33 years, Jesse Williams serves as The University of Tulsa’s defensive run game coordinator and defensive line coach. He joined Golden Hurricane coaching staff in February 2021 as defensive line coach and added the responsibility of run game coordinator in January 2022.

Williams has coached the defensive line for all 33 of those seasons. He started his career at his alma mater, Sonoma State, in 1988, and has also coaches at Portland State, Eastern Washington, Holy Cross, San Jose State, Colorado State, Nebraska-Kearney, New Mexico State, Ohio, Kansas and his most recent stint at Eastern Kentucky.

In 2021, Williams coached a Tulsa defensive front that was the first line of defense in limiting opposing offenses to 142.3 rushing yards per game to rank 48^th nationally for run defense. His linemen combined to total 196 tackles, 41 stops for lost yardage and 17.5 quarterback sacks.

Williams came to Tulsa after spending the 2019 season at Eastern Kentucky. He coached FCS first-team All-American and Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Patrick in 2019. Williams also tutored Taquan Evans to second team all-conference recognition. Evans’ eight sacks in 2019 were the ninth most in one season in program history.

He was part of a coaching staff in 2019 that helped EKU’s defense finish second in the OVC in points allowed, second in total defense, second in rushing defense and third in passing defense. Eastern Kentucky was fifth in the nation in third down defense, seventh in fourth down defense, 11th in red-zone defense, 15th in rushing defense, 16th in total defense and 22nd in scoring defense in 2019.

Before his time at EKU, Williams spent two seasons as the defensive line coach at Kansas (2017-18). Under Williams’ guidance, defensive tackle Daniel Wise earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2017 and 2018. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. was a second team all-conference honoree in 2017. Wise had one of the best seasons of any defensive lineman in the Big 12 in 2017 as he turned in 16 tackles-for-loss, including seven sacks. He ranked second in the Big 12 in tackles for a loss and 11th in the FBS rankings.

Williams arrived at Kansas after spending five seasons (2012-16) as the defensive line coach at Ohio. The 2016 Bobcat defense produced 104 tackles-for-loss, manufactured 44 sacks and held opponents to 104.4 yards rushing per game. Williams’ defensive line broke through blocking schemes for 59.5 tackles for a loss and sacked the quarterback 31.5 times.

Williams tutored the 2016 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Year Tarell Basham to a team-high 11.5 sacks. Williams also helped Casey Sayles to third team All-MAC honors with six sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss.
In 2014, the Bobcat defense was stout against the run allowing only 132 yards on the ground per game and holding opponents to under 100 yards in six games. Williams’ defensive line recorded 12 sacks. In 2013, Williams directed a defensive line that accounted for 36 sacks, which tied for 20th in the country and ranked second in the MAC.

Basham made an immediate impact as a rookie, totaling 7.5 sacks, which tied for fifth all-time for a single season. He was named to the Football Writers Association of American (FWAA) Freshmen All-America Team.

In his first season at Ohio, Williams led a defensive line unit that combined for 249 tackles, 39 tackles-for-loss and 14.5 sacks on a team that played in and won the Independence Bowl.

Before his tenure at Ohio, Williams was the defensive line coach at New Mexico State (2009-11), Nebraska-Kearney (2007-08), Colorado State (2007), Holy Cross (1996-97), Eastern Washington (1995), Portland State (1992-94) and Sonoma State (1988-91). He also served as the defensive ends coach at Colorado State (1999-06) and San Jose State (1998). Williams also doubled as the special team’s coordinator at Nebraska-Kearney, Eastern Washington, Holy Cross and San Jose State.

During his career, Williams has recruited California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Texas, Florida and Ohio. He played collegiately at Riverside City College and Sonoma State University.

Williams and his wife, Felicia, have three sons, Jessien, Jesse III and Albert.

Alma Mater: Sonoma State ‘88
Hometown: Rubidoux, Calif.
Playing Experience: Played at Riverside City College and Sonoma State University

Bowl Games as a Player
Year       Bowl Game
1987      Pony Bowl (Sonoma State)

Bowl Games as a Coach
Year       Bowl Game
1999      Liberty Bowl (Colorado State)
2000      Liberty Bowl (Colorado State)
2001      New Orleans Bowl (Colorado State)
2002      Liberty Bowl (Colorado State)
2003      San Francisco Bowl (Colorado State)
2005      Poinsettia Bowl (Colorado State)
2012      Independence Bowl (Ohio)
2013      Beef O’Brady Bowl (Ohio)
2015      Camellia Bowl (Ohio)
2016      Dollar General Bowl (Ohio)
2021      Myrtle Beach Bowl (Tulsa)