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Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association

Bert Williams named National Coach of the Year

Bert Williams named National Coach of the Year
January 16, 2014

Georgia Military Head Coach Bert Williams has been named the 2013 American Community College Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year. The award was presented last week at the 2014 AFCA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

Coach Williams completed his 14th season leading the GMC program as head coach and athletic director and guided the Bulldogs to a perfect 11-0 regular season record and an appearance in the NJCAA Championship game after starting the season ranked outside the top 20. The Bulldogs claimed wins over four top 10 opponents during the season – including victories over No. 2 Snow, No. 10 ASA, No. 2 Iowa Western, and No. 6 Nassau.
This was Williams' third national championship appearance with the first coming in 2001 and a national title by defeating Butler CC 31-19 in the Sea Island Golden Isles Bowl. The Bulldogs were runner-ups this year and in 2002.  “It is always exciting and humbling as well to receive such recognition from one’s peers,” Williams said. “It is especially so in this case given the difficulty of the season and the travel we had to undertake to play a highly competitive schedule. I feel like the award is really a testament to the consistent hard work and dedication of our coaches, players, and support staff and I am honored to accept it on all of our behalf.”
 

Williams has a career record of 113-37 and the fifth-most wins among active NJCAA coaches. Williams record is even more impressive despite having to replace half the team every year. “Replacing half a team each year is a huge challenge,” Williams said. “Recruiting and training with limited resources is far more challenging than in many four-year programs.  Building team chemistry is always a challenge because it is easy for players to focus on individual success rather than team success – worried more about being recruited than by moving forward as a team.  I think one of the most underrated challenges is with coaches having the ability to be flexible in their schemes." 

Williams was inducted into the NJCAA Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010 and previously was named NJCAA Football Coach of the Year in 2001.  Williams was a four-year letterman at  Davidson College, then served as a graduate assistant at the University of Georgia from 1990-94.  After serving as offensive coordinator for three years at Union College, Williams came to GMC in the same capacity for another three years before being named head coach and athletic director in 2000.