Ronnie Williams Hired to Complete Track & Field Staff
August 18, 2023 | Track & Field
Williams returns to collegiate coaching after most recently serving as the sprints/hurdles coach at Arizona State from 2009-17.
University of Louisville director of track & field/cross country Joe Franklin has announced the addition of Ronnie Williams as an assistant coach for sprints and hurdles to the Cardinals' track & field coaching staff.
Williams boasts over 12 years of collegiate coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and NJCAA levels, last serving as the assistant coach for sprints, hurdles, and relays at Arizona State from 2009-17.
"Ronnie was the first athlete I recruited in my coaching career. He said no to me 28 years ago and he finally said yes," said Franklin. "He is one of the top sprint coaches in the nation and we look forward to building on our past success in the sprints to new heights in the future."
Over the course of his career, Williams' athletes have earned a pair of NCAA runner-up finishes, 38 NCAA All-American honors and 23 individual conference championships while also setting numerous program records.
"I'm super excited to join Coach Franklin's staff at Louisville," said Williams. "I've known Joe for a very long time, and I'm incredibly excited to bring my skillset to his program and continue competing at the national level."
During his eight seasons in Tempe, Williams guided his athletes to widespread success at the conference and national levels, coaching 33 NCAA All-Americans along with 19 conference champions in both the Pac-12 and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Williams also led a pair of Sun Devils to national runner-up finishes while coaching at Arizona State, guiding Donald Sanford to a second-place finish in the men's 400m at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships and Ryan Milus to a silver medal in the men's 60m at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Previously, Williams had coached at the Division I level at Iowa State for the 2007-08 season before joining the staff at Texas Christian prior to the beginning the 2008-09 season, working as an assistant sprints coach at both stops.
Williams began his coaching career in 2005, spending two seasons as the sprints coach at Mesa Community College where he led his sprinters to seven NJCAA top-eight finishes, while qualifying 24 marks for the national meet, and four new school records.
As an athlete, Williams competed on the Kentucky track & field team for two years where he was a four-time All-American sprinter for the Wildcats. During his first year in Lexington, Williams helped the 4x100m relay team to All-American honors after the same team captured the SEC title earlier in the 1996 season. His senior year saw him collect All-American distinction in the indoor 200m as well as in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relay.
Prior to joining the Wildcats, Williams competed for two seasons at Long Beach City College, where he won the 400m title at the 1994 Southern California Community College Championships.
Williams earned an associate's degree in physical education from LBCC in 1994 and also holds a bachelor's degree in social work, which he earned in 1997. He has also attained three certifications from USA Track & Field, including a Level I and Level II Coaching Certification along with a Level II Jumps Certification.
Williams boasts over 12 years of collegiate coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and NJCAA levels, last serving as the assistant coach for sprints, hurdles, and relays at Arizona State from 2009-17.
"Ronnie was the first athlete I recruited in my coaching career. He said no to me 28 years ago and he finally said yes," said Franklin. "He is one of the top sprint coaches in the nation and we look forward to building on our past success in the sprints to new heights in the future."
Over the course of his career, Williams' athletes have earned a pair of NCAA runner-up finishes, 38 NCAA All-American honors and 23 individual conference championships while also setting numerous program records.
"I'm super excited to join Coach Franklin's staff at Louisville," said Williams. "I've known Joe for a very long time, and I'm incredibly excited to bring my skillset to his program and continue competing at the national level."
During his eight seasons in Tempe, Williams guided his athletes to widespread success at the conference and national levels, coaching 33 NCAA All-Americans along with 19 conference champions in both the Pac-12 and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Williams also led a pair of Sun Devils to national runner-up finishes while coaching at Arizona State, guiding Donald Sanford to a second-place finish in the men's 400m at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships and Ryan Milus to a silver medal in the men's 60m at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Previously, Williams had coached at the Division I level at Iowa State for the 2007-08 season before joining the staff at Texas Christian prior to the beginning the 2008-09 season, working as an assistant sprints coach at both stops.
Williams began his coaching career in 2005, spending two seasons as the sprints coach at Mesa Community College where he led his sprinters to seven NJCAA top-eight finishes, while qualifying 24 marks for the national meet, and four new school records.
As an athlete, Williams competed on the Kentucky track & field team for two years where he was a four-time All-American sprinter for the Wildcats. During his first year in Lexington, Williams helped the 4x100m relay team to All-American honors after the same team captured the SEC title earlier in the 1996 season. His senior year saw him collect All-American distinction in the indoor 200m as well as in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relay.
Prior to joining the Wildcats, Williams competed for two seasons at Long Beach City College, where he won the 400m title at the 1994 Southern California Community College Championships.
Williams earned an associate's degree in physical education from LBCC in 1994 and also holds a bachelor's degree in social work, which he earned in 1997. He has also attained three certifications from USA Track & Field, including a Level I and Level II Coaching Certification along with a Level II Jumps Certification.
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