Dale Williams - Football Coach - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Dale Williams

Title:
Offensive Line

Coaching Experience
2005- Florida Atlantic Assistant (Offensive Line)
2002-04 University of Findlay Assistant coach (Offensive Coordinator)
2000-04 University of Findlay Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
1997-99 Gardner-Webb University Assistant Coach (Offensive Line)
1996-97 North Greenville College (Assistant Coach)
1994-96 University of West Virginia(Graduate Assistant)

Bowl Games as A Coach
2008 Motor City Bowl (Florida Atlantic)
2007 New Orleans (Florida Atlantic)

Bowl Games as a Player
Bowl 1989 Gator Bowl (West Virginia)
1994 Sugar Bowl (West Virginia)

Recruiting Area
Broward County, Naples, FL, and Southwest Florida

Personal Information
Birth date: Dec. 4, 1970
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Education: 1996, M.S., athletic coaching education, West Virginia University; 1994, B.S., liberal arts, West Virginia
Marital Status: Wife, Wendi
Children: Nicole (11) and Dominick (7)

At FAU
Dale Williams joined the staff in the spring of 2005 as the team's offensive line coach.

Williams got to work right out of the gate returning just two players who had earned playing time, and those two would change positions. As 2005 progressed the Owls began to solidify the line. Redshirt freshman Nick Paris quickly became a solid contributor as did John Rizzo. The line showed its maturity in 2006 with better offensive statistics despite two new quarterbacks.

The 2007 season began with FAU tallying 216 rushing yards against the defending conference co-champion. Two games later, following an upset victory over Minnesota, quarterback Rusty Smith invited the offensive line to join him at the post-game press conference. At season's end, when Smith was named Sun Belt Player of the Year, he spoke only of the "O" line and what they did for both the passing and running game. The line remained intact through the entire season, with several playing despite injuries. That experience paid dividends with the quarterbacks being sacked just 15 times which ranked no. 13 nationally. The offense also gained the second most offensive yards both on the ground and through the air, set a new record and protection was at an all-time high for the quarterback, despite the strength of schedule. John Rizzo and Jarrid Smith earned Sun Belt Conference second-team honors.

Nearly everyone returned in 2008 and all with the same goal -- better protection. Late preseason injuries shook up the line, but in the end made the unit stronger and more experienced. The Owls traveled to Texas where they opened with a strong defensive line and two new centers by midseason the line was once again intact and would remain relatively healthy through the final regular-season game. The bowl game saw the Owls start three newcomers on the line and each drew upon the experience gained throughout the year. While four of the season's 16 sacks occurred in the bowl game it was a game that also showcased talented line's future with only one senior playing. Smith passed for 306 yards including a 52 yard toss to Chris Bonner and two scores. The running game was also in full force behind the line that made way for 112 yards including Charles Pierre's 77 yard effort that put him over the top of the 1,000 yard plateau. Pierre became the first FAU player to rush for more than a 1,000 yards in a season. He used the line built by Williams to become the program's all-time rushing leader.

At Findlay
Williams came to Florida Atlantic after a five-year stint at the University of Findlay, a program that finished 2002 with a 9-2 record and a no. 25 national ranking among Division II schools. He served the last three years as the offensive coordinator and offensive line and recruiting coordinator.

At Gardner-Webb
Prior to Findlay, Williams was the offensive line coach as well as the running game and recruiting coordinator at Gardner-Webb University. He was responsible for an offensive line that gained over 2,000 yards on the ground while mentoring Ben Fuller to first-team All-SAC honors two consecutive seasons.

At North Greenville
His 1996-97 season was spent working with Steve Patton at North Carolina-Greenville. That season the Mounties offense was rated no. 4 nationally, averaging 31.0 points per game and 410 yards in total offense.

At WVU
His coaching career began at West Virginia, his alma mater, where he was a graduate assistant from 1994-96. He earned both his undergraduate degree (liberal arts '94) and master's degree (athletic coaching education '96) from WVU.

As a Player
Athletically, Williams was a three-year letterman and a two-year starter for the Mountaineers and was named the 1993 best lineman. He played in the 1989 Gator Bowl and the 1994 Sugar Bowl

Following his collegiate career, the Cleveland, OH, native played one season of professional football for the Arena Football Leagues Cleveland Thunderbolts. His stint with the Thunderbolts was an opportunity to return home, where he had a standout career at perennial national power St. Ignatius (OH).