DAHLONEGA — After resurrecting both the women's cross country and track and field programs at the University of North Georgia, head coach Tom Williams has announced his retirement with the pending end of the 2019-20 season.
"I have been blessed beyond measure with the opportunities that Lindsay Reeves and the University of North Georgia have given me to do something I have a passion for," stated Williams. "I have had many great memories from my time at UNG including a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship meet and a Peach Belt Conference championship, but it is the lasting relationships I have developed with the student-athletes and staff that I will forever cherish."
A two-time Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year in cross country and the 2019 PBC women's track & Field Coach of the Year, Williams became the head coach of the cross country program in 2009 and then returned in 2012 to restart the program and is now the longest tenured cross country coach in program history.
In his time as head coach, the cross country team has finished in the top two at the conference meet six straight years, including the program's first ever championship in 2017. The program also advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship Meet for the first time ever in 2014 under Williams's guidance.
"We are extremely grateful for the service that Coach Williams has provided countless UNG student-athletes in his years with the cross country and track programs," stated athletic director Lindsay Reeves. "Aside for winning championships for UNG, he has built a strong foundation and legacy that will live on within our programs, department and the greater UNG community."
Williams has coached multiple All-Conference runners in both cross country and track & field over his career at UNG, including a four-time All-Conference cross country runner in Brittany Truitt, only the 10th women's cross country runner in Peach Belt Conference history to be named All-Conference four times. He has also guided 27 athletes to USTFCCCA All-Region status.
In 2017, Williams was given the opportunity to restart the women's track & field program and has coached at least one athlete to a Peach Belt championship in each of the three years the program has been active. So far in the 2020 season, the Nighthawks have claimed victory in both meets the team has competed in and have athletes closing in on NCAA provisional marks to qualify for the national championships. Under his direction, the program had its first-ever Freshman of the Year in 2018 and has had 19 All-Conference honorees in the short tenure of the program.
Outside of competition, Williams has coached 85 Peach Belt All-Academic Honorees and 39 USTFCCCA Scholar Athletes. His teams have been named USTFCCCA All-Academic 10 times as well.
A national search for Williams's replacement will begin immediately.
