Jesse Williams - Football Coach - Central Michigan University Athletics

Jesse Williams

Title:
Defensive Line
E-Mail Address:
willi4jo@cmich.edu
Phone:
(989) 774-3896
Year at CMU:
2nd year at CMU
Hometown:
Rubidoux, Calif.
Alma Mater/Year:
Sonoma State/1988
Experience:
36th year

A college coaching veteran of 35 years, Jesse Williams enters his second year with the Central Michigan football program as its defensive line coach in 2024.

In his first season at Central Michigan, Williams’ defensive line featured a veteran group led by Jacques Bristol, Robi Stuart, Jason Williams and Maurice White. The group accumulated 16.5 sacks, 27.5 tackles-for-loss, and 27 quarterback hurries.

Williams has coached the defensive line for all 34 of those seasons. He started his career at his alma mater, Sonoma State, in 1988, and has also coached at Portland State, Eastern Washington, Holy Cross, San Jose State, Colorado State, Nebraska-Kearney, New Mexico State, Ohio, Kansas and his most recent stint at Eastern Kentucky.

Williams also guided teams to 11 bowl game appearances: the 1999 Liberty Bowl (Colorado State), 2000 Liberty Bowl (Colorado State), 2001 New Orleans Bowl (Colorado State), 2002 Liberty Bowl (Colorado State), 2003 San Francisco Bowl (Colorado State), 2005 Poinsettia Bowl (Colorado State), 2012 Independence Bowl (Ohio), 2013 Beef O’Brady Bowl (Ohio), 2015 Camellia Bowl (Ohio), 2016 Dollar General Bowl (Ohio), and 2021 Myrtle Beach Bowl (Tulsa).

Williams arrived at Central Michigan after spending two years as the defensive line coach at Tulsa (2021-22). In 2021, Williams coached a Tulsa defensive front that helped limit opposing offenses to 142.3 rushing yards per game, which ranked No. 48 nationally in run defense. His linemen combined to total 196 tackles, 41 total tackles for loss, and 17.5 quarterback sacks. In January 2022, he added the responsibility of run-game coordinator.

Williams spent the 2019 season at Eastern Kentucky. He coached 2019 FCS First Team All-American and Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Patrick. 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. He was part of a coaching staff in 2019 that helped EKU’s defense finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference in points allowed, total defense, and rushing defense, and third in passing defense. Eastern Kentucky ranked No. 5 in the nation in third down defense, No. 7 in fourth down defense, No. 11 in red-zone defense, No. 15 in rushing defense, No. 16 in total defense, and No. 22 in scoring defense in 2019.

Williams spent two seasons as the defensive line coach at Kansas in 2017 and 2018. Under Williams’ guidance, defensive tackle Daniel Wise earned First Team All-Big 12 honors in both 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 a 16 tackles-for-loss, seven-sack campaign. He ranked second in the Big 12 in tackles-for-loss and 11th in the FBS rankings.

Williams spent five seasons (2012-16) as the defensive line coach at Ohio. The 2016 Bobcat defense produced 104 tackles-for-loss, manufactured 44 sacks, and limited opponents to 104.4 yards rushing per game. Williams’ defensive line broke through blocking schemes for 59.5 tackles for a loss and 31.5 sacks. 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 while 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 ranked tied for No. 20 in the country and ranked second in the MAC. Basham made an immediate impact as a rookie, totaling 7.5 sacks, which tied as the fifth-highest total in school history for a single season. For his efforts, 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 on a team that played in and won the Independence Bowl.

Before his tenure at Ohio, Williams was the defensive line coach at New Mexico State (2009-11), Nebraska-Kearney (2007-08), Colorado State (1999-2007), Holy Cross (1996-97), Eastern Washington (1995), Portland State (1992-94) and Sonoma State (1988-91).

Under the direction of head coach Sonny Lubick, Williams helped the Rams become one of the top teams in the Mountain West Conference during his tenure (1999-07) in Fort Collins. Williams helped lead the Rams to six total bowl games from and five consecutive from 1999-2003. During his tenure at CSU, he coached several standouts including defensive ends Clark Haggans (2000-12 NFL lineman), Andre Sommersell (1994 NFL draft pick) and Peter Hogan (Outland Trophy candidate).

Williams also served as the defensive ends coach at Colorado State (1999-06) and at San Jose State (1998). Williams also doubled as the special team’s coordinator at Nebraska-Kearney, Eastern Washington, Holy Cross and San Jose State.

During his career, Williams has recruited California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Texas, Florida, and Ohio. He played collegiately at Riverside City College and Sonoma State.

Williams and his wife, Felicia, have three sons, Jessien, Jesse III and Albert.

THE WILLIAMS FILE

Hometown: Rubidoux, Calif.

Education
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Sonoma State University (Calif.)

Coaching Career
Defensive Line Coach, Central Michigan University, 2023
Defensive Run Game Coordinator and Defensive Line Coach, University of Tulsa, 2022
Defensive Line Coach, University of Tulsa, 2021
Defensive Line Coach, Eastern Kentucky, 2019
Defensive Line Coach, University of Kansas, 2017-18
Defensive Line Coach, Ohio University, 2012-16
Defensive Line Coach, New Mexico State University, 2009-11
Defensive Line Coach, University of Nebraska-Kearney, 2007-08
Defensive Line Coach, Colorado State University, 2007
Defensive Ends Coach, Colorado State University, 1999-2006
Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, San Jose State University, 1998
Defensive Line Coach, Holy Cross University, 1996-97
Defensive Line Coach, Eastern Washington University, 1995
Defensive Line Coach, Portland State University, 1992-94
Defensive Line Coach, Sonoma State University, 1988-91

Playing Career
Played two years at Sonoma State University … Guided Sonoma State to the Pony Bowl in 1987 … Also played at Riverside City College.