Adrian College will be starting Division III competition next season, and this week they named former Michigan State assistant coach Chris Williams as the first head coach at the school since 1984. Williams will coach both the men’s and women’s teams. Williams also spent time as the head coach of Michigan USA Wrestling. The 2001 Michigan State All-American will take over immediately and begin building a team to compete next season. Read below for more from Adrian.

Chris Williams Named Head Wrestling Coach

Nov 21, 2014
ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian College athletic department has announced the hiring of Chris Williams as the head coach that will issue in a new era for the wrestling program. Williams will guide the men’s and women’s programs at Adrian College, which has not fielded a wrestling program since 1984.

Williams made his most recent stop at Michigan State University as the assistant coach of the men’s wrestling team from 2005-2013. He helped lead the Spartans in the Big Ten Conference, the highest level of Division I wrestling in the country. Williams led the fundraising efforts for the program while also organizing the recruiting efforts of future student-athletes. He was a part of a program that stressed academic success and the development of essential life skills off of the wrestling mat.

“We are very pleased to find such a great coach from the state of Michigan,” said athletic director Michael Duffy. “It goes without saying that the first hire in decades for wrestling here at Adrian College is a huge moment. We believe that Chris is a perfect fit for the rebirth of wrestling at Adrian College. He has a great pedigree as a collegiate wrestler and helped build a top-notch program at his alma mater Michigan State University. The goal is to compete right way and start building towards the 2015-16 season.”

Williams also took part as the head coach of the Michigan USA Wrestling Team from 2007-12. He was selected to be the leader of over 100 of the top wrestlers in the state as they competed in national events. He also served as a coach in MSU Wrestling Camps, where his duties were to schedule and promote these events in conjunction with Michigan State’s Summer Camp Office.

“It is great that wrestling was brought back to Adrian College and the addition of the women’s program is a big selling point for the college and wrestling program,” said Williams, a native of Fowlerville, Michigan who was a two-time Michigan high school state champion and compiled a 195-10 record at Fowlerville High School. “I am amazed at the amount of support that student-athletes are given at Adrian College. The administration has put the resources together to make these programs into something that will be formidable. The addition of a new weight room and multi-purpose room is a great commitment to excellence.”

Prior to coaching, Williams was a collegiate wrestler at Michigan State University from 1997-2002. He was an NCAA All-American in 2001 in the 125-pound weight class as well as the team captain in 2001-02. He also competed in the 2002 national championships and picked up a pair of wins. Williams is currently ranked 17th all-time at MSU with 102 wins on the mat. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree from Michigan State in 2002 in Interdisciplinary Studies. Following his time in East Lansing, Williams earned his Certificate in Secondary Education from Eastern Michigan University in Social Studies and Economics.

“I believe my prior coaching experiences have prepared me for the opportunity to build a great wrestling environment at Adrian College. I was fortunate to coach at the highest level and am excited about bringing student-athletes to campus that are hungry to be successful in the classroom and on the mat. I will be looking to recruit those who are willing to work hard and are passionate about wrestling at Adrian College. I am committed to preparing our student-athletes to be successful during their time at Adrian College and beyond. Building a program is a very exciting challenge that I am ready to take on,” commented Williams.