Rice Head Coach Greg Williams Announces Retirement

On March 17, 2015, Greg Williams announced he is retiring from the coaching business. After 10 years at the helm of his alma mater—a 1970 Rice graduate—he walks away as one of the most renowned coaches in the business. Williams compiled a 141-170 record, four postseason appearances and 14 All-Conference selections during his time at Rice. He holds a 342-309 overall collegiate coaching record, which includes his tenure at the University of Houston and Colorado State University. While at Colorado State, he had the opportunity to coach women’s basketball legend Becky Hammon. As head coach at the University of Houston, he had a noteworthy season in 1987, which included a 22-7 career mark and the school’s first ever Top 20 finish and NCAA Tournament appearance. During that 1985-1986 season, his Lady Cougars documented a major upset over #3 ranked Louisiana Tech University.

Also noteworthy in Coach Williams’ career is a successful coaching stint in the WNBA during its inaugural period. He started as an assistant for the Utah Starzz in 1997, and then moved to the Detroit Shock in 1998, where he was Director of Scouting and Assistant Coach; he helped lead the team to a 1999 playoff series. Two years later, he became the Detroit Shock Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel. Williams was the first to coach in three professional leagues, which included the WBL and WABA. In 1980, he coached the WBL’s Dallas Diamonds, where he was named the league’s coach of the year in 1981. The talented team included basketball icon Nancy Lieberman, who played at SMU’s Moody Coliseum. Williams returned to the professional ranks in 1984 as the Dallas Diamonds resurfaced in the WABA. He only stayed one year, but in that time, the Diamonds won the league championship and Coach was awarded his second Coach of the Year award.