University of Memphis Athletics
Men's Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Men's Coach
- Email:
- mwllms56@memphis.edu
Matt Williams enters his second season on head coach Richard Mulrooney’s Memphis men’s soccer coaching staff.
Williams came to Memphis after serving two seasons as the head men’s soccer coach for the Huntingdon College Hawks in Montgomery, Ala. His first season leading the program coincided with the school’s inaugural year in the in the USA South Athletic Conference of Division III.
“Matt has been wanting to be a Division I coach and I’m happy to give him that opportunity. He has the prerequisites and the playing experience and he’s earned this. With is background as a head coach at Huntingdon he understands what needs to be done on the field and in the office as well. He will fit right in on our staff,” said Mulrooney.
Following his first season as an assistant for the Tigers, he was hired as the first ever head coach of Memphis City FC of the National Premier Soccer League. He served in that role for part of the team’s inaugural season in 2016.
After serving one season as an assistant coach at Huntingdon in 2012 he was promoted to head coach. While Williams was an assistant in 2012 the team posted its most wins in a single season since 2007.
Williams’ squads were known for their defensive discipline, allowing a school record total of only 31 goals with five shutouts in 2013. His 2014 team matched the record-setting goals against tally.
Prior to Huntingdon, Williams was an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of West Florida, in 2009. He later served as an assistant coach for the Gulf Coast Texans in the Women’s Premiere Soccer League.
Before joining the coaching ranks, Williams played in the United Soccer Leagues, first with Panama City in the Premier Development League and later with Real Maryland in the USL 2nd Division. Williams also played with Team Wellington in the ASB Premiership.
Williams played collegiately at the University of North Florida and the University of West Florida, where he was a member of conference championship teams in 2007 and 2008. He was a first-team all-conference selection at UWF in 2008.
Although he was born in San Diego, Calif., Williams calls Pensacola, Fla. home. He played for Gulf Coast Texans as a youth player and got his start as a coach with the team several years later. Williams holds a USSF “B” License and an NSCAA Premier Diploma.
