Donté Williams enters his first season with the Wildcats after being hired on Jan. 17, 2016. An esteemed recruiter and accomplished secondary coach, Williams workrs with the Wildcats' cornerbacks.
Williams joins the Arizona coaching staff after three seasons at San Jose State, including the final two when he served as the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. Under his tutelage, the Spartans boasted one of the nation’s top pass defenses, including the best mark in all of FBS in 2014 (117.8 yards per game), which was followed up by a No. 2 finish in 2015 (153.6 ypg).
The Spartans’ defense made immediate improvement with Williams, who was promoted from cornerbacks coach to secondary after one year. In his first season overseeing the entire secondary in 2014, San Jose State’s total defense improved 56 spots in the FBS rankings, while passing yards allowed improved 74 spots and passing touchdowns allowed jumped 103 spots.
In addition to his on-field work, Williams has garnered recognition for bolstering San Jose State’s recruiting efforts. In February 2015, Sports Illustrated named Williams a Top 10 recruiter in college football. He was also tabbed the top recruiter in the Mountain West Conference by 247sports.com in 2014.
Williams joined the Spartans after two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of Washington working with cornerbacks and linebackers. He was at the University of Nevada as an assistant linebacker coach in 2010.
Williams began his coaching career in 2007 as an assistant coach at Los Angeles Harbor College. He also worked one season each at El Camino College (2008) and Mt. San Antonio College (2009). In 2012, Williams completed a summer coaching internship with the Seattle Seahawks. Prior to the start of the Spartans' 2014 camp, he was a guest coach in the New Era All-Star Game in Japan.
The 2006 Idaho State University graduate played college football at?Syracuse in 2003 and Idaho State in 2004 and 2005. Professionally, Williams played two seasons in Arena Football League 2 (AF2) for the Rio Grande Valley Dorados (2007) and Arkansas Twisters (2008). He was a first-team all-league player and a defensive team captain in each of his two seasons.
Williams' Coaching History
| 2014-15 |
San Jose State, secondary coach and recruiting coordinator |
| 2013 |
San Jose State, cornerbacks |
| 2011-12 |
Washington, graduate assistant/CBs/LBs |
| 2010 |
Nevada, quality control assistant/LBs |
| 2009 |
Mount San Antonio, secondary |
Williams in the Bowls
| 2015 |
Cure Bowl, San Jose State assistant |
| 2012 |
Las Vegas Bowl, Washington graduate assistant |
| 2011 |
Alamo Bowl, Washington graduate assistant |
| 2010 |
Nevada, quality control assistant/LBs |
Donté Williams File
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
College: Idaho State, 2005
Playing Career: Syracuse, 2003; Idaho State, 2004-05
Recruiting Areas: Los Angeles, Houston
