Joe Williams

Joe Williams (1934-2022)

Teams coached: Jacksonville Dolphins, Furman Paladins, Florida State Seminoles
Jacksonville record: 92-61 (.601)
Furman record: 142-87 (.620)
Florida State record: 129-105 (.551)
Overall record: 363-253 (.589)

Career Accomplishments:

• NCAA National Championships:  0  (Runner-up in 1970)
• NCAA Tournament Appearances:  7  (1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1980)
• NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  2  (1970, 1974)
• NCAA Tournament Final Four:  1  (1970)
• NIT Championships:  0
• NIT Appearances:  1  (1984)
• SoCon Regular Season Champion:  3  (1974, 1975, 1977)
• SoCon Tournament Champion:  5  (1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978)
• NAIA Tournament Appearances:  1  (1965)

Awards:

• SoCon Coach of the Year:  1  (1973)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1978-1986	Florida State
1970-1978	Furman
1964-1970	Jacksonville
1962-1964	Florida State (asst)

Joe Williams Facts

• Joe Williams
• Born 1934
• Died March 26, 2022
• Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Alma mater: Tulane University (BA) / University of Florida (MA)
• Born in Mississippi and raised in Oklahoma City, Williams started out playing for Abe Lemons at then-Division I Oklahoma City
  • Eventually transferred to and graduated from Tulane; later got a masters’ at Florida while coaching at Jacksonville
• Started his coaching career at Parker JHS (FL) in 1959-60 and then was head coach at Jean Ribault HS (FL) from 1960-62
• Served as an assistant under J.K. “Bud” Kennedy at Florida State for two seasons; coached freshman team in 1962-63
• Was the head coach at Jacksonville for six seasons, going 92-61 during that tenure
  • Went to the 1965 NAIA Tournament and then the 1970 NCAA Tournament once JU had moved up
    • The 1969-70 squad, led by Artis Gilmore, went 27-2 and finished as NCAA Runner-up
    • Dolphins were ranked as high as #4 in the AP poll that season
  • Inducted twice into the JU Athletic Hall of Fame: as an individual in 1994 and with the 1969-70 team in 2019
• Left JU for Furman that off-season, coaching the Paladins for eight seasons
  • Won three SoCon titles, five SoCon Tournaments and went to the NCAA Tournament five times
• Final coaching stop was a return to Florida State, where he led the Seminoles for eight seasons
  • Went 129-105 overall, going to one NIT and one NCAA Tournament
• Passed away in March 2022 following a battle with cancer at the age of 88
  • Survived by his wife, Wendy, and his four sons

Joe Williams Coaching Tree

• Tom Wasdin (Jacksonville)
• Steve Yoder (Wisconsin, Ball State)