Black Firsts, January 2009: Tom Williams

Tom Williams

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The Yale Daily News has reported that Jacksonville Jaguars defensive assistant Tom Williams will replace Jack Siedlecki as the Yale University head football coach. Williams will be the 33rd football coach to serve at the University, whose college football program is one of the oldest in the United States. He is the first African American ever selected for this position, and only the second Black head football coach in Ivy League history.  In response to his selection, William issued this comment:

I am thrilled for this tremendous opportunity to be the head football coach at such a historic and fabled institution. I would like to thank president Levin, [athletic director] Tom Beckett and all of the people involved in this process for their time and efforts. I am dedicated to bringing an exciting brand of football that the Yale players and fan base will both embrace and enjoy.

—Sportsnetwork.com

Williams is a graduate of Stanford University, where played linebacker. He was a captain of Stanford’s 1992 Pac-10 championship team (a co-championship with Washington). After spending the 1993 season on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, he returned to Stanford to earn a master’s degree in university administration.

To read more on Tom Williams and his selection as Yale University first Black head football coach, click THIS link.

Posted by Ajuan Mance