Jan. 27, 2003

Columbia, SC –

Charlie Williams, who has experience coaching high-caliber receivers at both the professional and major college levels, has been named wide receivers coach at the University of South Carolina. The announcement was made Monday afternoon.

Williams spent six seasons as receivers coach with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1996-2001), where he tutored such standout performers as Keyshawn Johnson, Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green. Johnson was chosen to play in three Pro Bowls while Williams was his position coach. In 2000 and 2001, the Tampa Bay offense set several club offensive records and during his tenure with the Bucs, the team advanced to the playoffs on four different occasions.

Prior to his time with Tampa Bay, Williams served as wide receivers coach at the University of Miami (1993-95), where he helped lead the Hurricanes to three straight postseason bowl games. While at Miami, Williams worked with head coaches Dennis Erickson and Butch Davis, while Larry Coker, who is currently the Hurricanes’ head coach, was offensive coordinator.

Williams also has coaching experience at Minnesota, Texas Christian, New Mexico State and Long Beach City College. He is a native of Long Beach, Calif., and played two years of football at Colorado State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1982.

“Charlie Williams is an experienced and accomplished football coach at both the NFL and major college levels,” said head coach Lou Holtz. “He has coached and developed a number of big-play and big-time receivers. I received strong recommendations about Charlie from a number of coaches, including Monte Kiffin (defensive coordinator of World Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Butch Davis (head coach Cleveland Browns), Larry Coker (head coach Miami Hurricanes) and Tony Dungy (head coach Indianapolis Colts). All of them were extremely impressed with Charlie both as a coach and as a person. Monte Kiffin told me he was an outstanding receivers coach and developer of talent. We believe Coach Williams will be an excellent addition to the South Carolina program.”

“I’m truly excited about the opportunity of coming to South Carolina and working with Coach Holtz,” said Williams. “I’ve followed Coach Holtz over the years and know he is one of the great coaches of all-time. I’ve played and coached against his teams and have tremendous respect for what he’s accomplished. The South Carolina program is on the way up and I want to be a part of what’s happening there. The SEC offers a tremendous challenge and opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.”

Williams has two children: a daughter, Sydney (12) and a son, Gregory (8).