Chapman football welcomes Izaiah Williams, new assistant coach and assistant athletic director

Izaiah Williams recently became Chapman University's assistant athletic director and assistant football coach. Photo courtesy of Steven Olveda

Izaiah Williams has years of experience coaching and playing collegiate sports. This month, he was hired to work with the athletic department’s work study program at Chapman University and coach running backs on the football team.  

Williams told The Panther about how he trains his athletes for the upcoming season.

“Once you develop some degree of trust in a relationship you can start pushing people, but It's up to you to adhere to your accessibility,” Williams said.

Williams has over a decade of experience and has led many teams to victory with his mentorship, critical thinking skills and positive attitude. 

“I love the process of collegiate athletics,” Williams said. “It's not easy, and it should not be easy. But that on top of the academic load prepares the athlete for going into a work environment.”

Williams was born and raised in Pacific Grove, California. Growing up, he developed a passion for playing football. He attended Pacific Grove High School where he played in an all-league section and became a three year varsity letter-winner. 

Later, he attended Monterey Peninsula College, where he played football collegiately for a year before transferring to Humboldt State University. 

In 2007, he finished his collegiate football career and later carried his profession into graduate school. He pursued a master's degree in kinesiology and coached alongside Humboldt State's head football coach. 

After Williams graduated from Humboldt State he began coaching at New Mexico State as an assistant coach. 

He later coached a season at Urbana High School and then spent two years at Northwestern University, where he led his team to winning their first bowl game since the 1949 Rose Bowl. 

Williams was also the special team coordinator and linebacker coach for Whittier College, and he devoted many years to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Division III programs. Williams has been welcomed by the football players already.

“The culture of the football team is family — everyone who is brought in is treated equally,” said Amir Adams, a sophomore psychology major and athlete on the football team.

Adams said  Williams’ training style is sure to bring the team far this year. 

“I think Coach Williams is very detail oriented — he makes sure we get all the little things right,” Adams said. “Football is about detail. Making sure we get those details right will lead us to winning games.”

Williams said his favorite part about working at Chapman so far is the environment and community around campus.

“The thing I enjoy the most is the people I'm around on a daily basis,” Williams said.