Jesse Williams, a 30-year football coaching veteran, joined the Eastern Kentucky University staff as defensive line coach in April of 2019.
In his first season with the Colonels, Williams helped defensive end Aaron Patrick earn first team All-America and Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. Patrick was also a finalist for national defensive player of the year after finishing 11th in the country in sacks. He led the OVC in sacks and tackles for a loss. 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.
Williams was part of a coaching staff in 2019 that helped the EKU 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.
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 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 got to 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. Following an Independence Bowl win, defensive end Tremayne Scott was named to the CBSSports.com All-Bowl team. Scott was the only player from the MAC to be named to the team after he totaled five tackles, two sacks and recorded his first career interception. Defensive tackle Neal Huynh earned third team All-MAC honors and signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
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 was the special teams coordinator at San Jose State and Holy Cross as well.
During his career, Williams has recruited California, Georgia, Texas, Florida and Ohio. He is a 1988 graduate of Sonoma State University. Williams and his wife Felicia have three sons, Jessien, Jesse III and Albert.
Jesse Williams Year-By-Year
| Year |
School |
Position |
Notes |
| 1988 |
Sonoma State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1989 |
Sonoma State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1990 |
Sonoma State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1991 |
Sonoma State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1992 |
Portland State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1993 |
Portland State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1994 |
Portland State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1995 |
Eastern Washington |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 1996 |
Holy Cross |
Defensive Line Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
|
| 1997 |
Holy Cross |
Defensive Line Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
|
| 1998 |
San Jose State |
Defensive Ends Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
|
| 1999 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
Liberty Bowl |
| 2000 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
Liberty Bowl |
| 2001 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
New Orleans Bowl |
| 2002 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
Liberty Bowl |
| 2003 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
San Francisco Bowl |
| 2004 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
|
| 2005 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
Poinsettia Bowl |
| 2006 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Ends Coach |
|
| 2007 |
Colorado State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 2008 |
Nebraska-Kearney |
Defensive Line Coach/Special Teams Coordinator |
|
| 2009 |
New Mexico State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 2010 |
New Mexico State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 2011 |
New Mexico State |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 2012 |
Ohio |
Defensive Line Coach |
Independence Bowl win |
| 2013 |
Ohio |
Defensive Line Coach |
Beef O'Brady Bowl, 20th NCAA sacks |
| 2014 |
Ohio |
Defensive Line Coach |
|
| 2015 |
Ohio |
Defensive Line Coach |
Camellia Bowl |
| 2016 |
Ohio |
Defensive Line Coach |
Dollar General Bowl, MAC Defensive POY |
| 2017 |
Kansas |
Defensive Line Coach |
2 All-Big 12 linemen |
| 2018 |
Kansas |
Defensive Line Coach |
1 All-Big 12 lineman |
| 2019 |
Eastern Kentucky |
Defensive Line Coach |
Coached OVC Defensive Player of the Year |
