Cooper Names Brian Williams to the Football Coaching Staff – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 17, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State University head football coach John Cooper announced today that Brian Williams, the defensive ends and special teams coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh, has been named an assistant coach, pending approval from The Ohio State University Board of Trustees. %^$
%^$”We went on a national search to find the best possible person to fill this position,” head coach John Cooper said. “Brian comes to us highly recommended by (Pittsburgh head coach) Walt Harris – who is someone I carry a lot of respect for. He’ll be a good addition to our staff and we are excited to have him on board.”%^$
%^$A native of Middlesboro, Ky., Williams just completed his third consecutive season at Pittsburgh but his fourth overall. In 1992, he was the outside linebackers coach. Willliams, 35, has been instrumental in the improvement of the Panthers’ pass rush, which has produced 73 quarterback sacks in the past three seasons. Pittsburgh finished the season with a 5-6 record, which marked the fifth best turnaround (three games) in Division IA college football. The Panthers finished 2-9 in 1998.%^$
%^$”I am extremely excited to be a part of a university so rich in tradition,” Williams said. “Ohio State is universally respected as one of the best programs in the country. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to work with coach Cooper, (assistant head coach) Fred Pagac, (defensive coordinator) Jon Tenuta, and (defensive tackles coach) Jim Heacock, and the rest of the offensive coaches.” %^$
%^$Prior to Pittsburgh, Williams was the linebackers coach at Cincinnati in 1996. He also tutored the linebackers at Fresno State from 1993-95. Following the 1995 season, Fresno State received a berth in the Aloha Bowl. From 1989-91, he served at the University of Pacific as the outside linebackers and special teams coach, working under Harris. His coaching career began in 1988 as a graduate assistant at Tennessee. %^$
%^$In 1996, Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky, where he also was a four-year standout on the defensive side of the ball. He finished his career ninth in Wildcat history with 350 tackles. In 1985, as a senior, he was a second-team all-Southeastern Conference selection and was an academic all-SEC honoree in 1984. Williams was voted the team’s most valuable senior in 1985, and the outstanding lineman his junior and senior years. %^$
%^$Williams and his wife Kathy have two children, Bryson (4) and Kaylee Maletta (1).%^$
%^$Brian Williams Coaching Chronology %^$
%^$Year School Title%^$1997-99 Pittsburgh Defensive Ends/Special Teams Coach%^$1996 Cincinnati Linebackers%^$1993-95 Fresno State Linebackers%^$1992 Pittsburgh Outside Linebackers%^$1989-91 Pacific Outside Linebackers/Special Teams%^$1988 Tennessee Graduate Assistant
