August 17, 2009
NEW
ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has hired former Gold Rush standout
Alfred Williams as men's assistant basketball coach. Williams, 25, played
basketball for Xavier from 2004-08. As a 6-foot-4 forward he averaged 8.4
points and 5.8 rebounds in 97 career games and helped Xavier earn a share of
the 2006-07 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship and
qualify for the NAIA Division I National Championship in 2005, 2007 and
2008. He was All-GCAC his senior year when he averaged 11.4 points and a
team-leading seven rebounds per game."Alfred epitomizes what I've always looked for in a player and a staff member — dedication, loyalty and toughness," Xavier head coach Dannton Jackson said. "He has all those qualities and the advantage of being a former Gold Rush player. He knows me and will blend in seamlessly with my system. He'll do a great job for Xavier again."
Williams is one of three Gold Rush players with 800 points, 500 rebounds and 150 assists in a career. Williams shot 41.1 from 3-point range in his career to rank second in Xavier history. His blocked shot and ensuing tiebreaking basket with seven seconds remaining lifted Xavier to an 82-79 victory over third-seeded Georgetown (Ky.) in the opening round of the 2007 NAIA nationals at Kansas City, Mo. — the first opening-round victory for the Rush since 1973.
Three times Alfred Williams helped Xavier qualify for the NAIA Division I National Championship. Williams spent the past year working in his native Greenville, S.C., with his brother Eric for Fundamentals 4 Success, a non-profit community agency which offers educational, personal and athletic assistance to basketball student-athletes.
"I'm excited to be back at Xavier," Williams said Monday, his first day on the job. "To have an opportunity to jump into college coaching at my age is beyond words."
Another brother, Shammond Williams, is the University of North Carolina's career leader in 3-point field goals made and free-throw percentage and was a member of the New Orleans Hornets in 2003-04 during a seven-year NBA career. Shammond Williams spent the past two seasons playing professionally in Spain.
Williams is a 2003 graduate of Greenville's Southside High School, and in 2008 he received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Xavier. He replaces another XU alum, David Egans, who resigned in June after three seasons to pursue opportunities in his native California.
Jackson, also an XU graduate and former player, is beginning his seventh season as Gold Rush head coach and has a career record of 134-62, including five 20-win seasons and four appearances at the NAIA's national tournament. The Gold Rush's 25 seasons of 20 or more victories are the most in the history of Louisiana men's collegiate basketball.