UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics mourns the passing of former Penn State Football coach and administrator Jim Williams, who died on Wednesday morning in Danville. He was 78.
Visitation will take place Monday at Koch Funeral Home on Monday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral mass will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either: Penn State Football Lettermen's Assistance Fund (c/o Kirk Diehl, 147 Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA 16802) or the State College Football Boosters (PO Box 445, State College, PA 16804-445).
Williams joined the Penn State football staff in 1977 as an assistant coach with the defense. After 16 years, he left the coaching staff to become an administrative assistant for the program in 1993 before retiring in March 2005.
Williams was a member of the defensive coaching staff in 1986, helping form a unit that did not allow more than 19 points to an opponent all season. The 1986 campaign was capped by the Nittany Lions' 14-10 win over Miami in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to clinch a 12-0 season and Penn State's second National Championship in four years.
Among Williams' responsibilities were pre-season arrangements, game-day operations, office management, liaison with high schools and professional sports teams and bowl game preparations. Williams coached some of Penn State's most accomplished defensive players.
In addition, Williams played center and linebacker at Penn State under Head Coach Rip Engle. Among his teammates were Bob Mitinger, Dave Robinson, Roger Kochman, Dick Anderson and Galen Hall.
Williams earned a degree in business administration in 1963 and soon began his 29-year coaching career as an assistant coach at Bellefonte Area High School from 1964-68. Williams was then given the opportunity to revitalize the State College Area High School program in 1969. In eight seasons at State College, his teams compiled a 65-13 record, including coaching Matt and Paul Suhey.
During his time at State High, Williams' coaching talents also were recognized by his peers. He was an assistant coach in the annual Big 33 game in 1973 and served as the head coach of the 1974 Big 33 team. In 1996, Williams was inducted into the Pennsylvania High School Coaches Hall of Fame for his many contributions as a prep coach. He was inducted into the Centre County Hall of Fame last October.
