A veteran of the UTSA football staff since January 2017, Damon Williams is in his eighth season with the Roadrunners and first as Director of Football Relations & Player Engagement. He has assisted both the defensive and special teams coaching staffs during his tenure and he also currently serves as the program’s NIL Liaison and assistant NFL Liaison.
During Williams’ time in San Antonio, the UTSA football program has experienced unprecedented success. Dating back to the 2020 season, the Roadrunners have enjoyed the most successful four-year run in program history with a 39-14 overall record, 27-4 regular season league mark, two conference championships and four straight bowl appearances, including a 35-17 victory over Marshall in the 2023 Frisco Bowl for the school’s first-ever bowl win. Additionally, three Roadrunners have been selected in the NFL Draft since Williams arrived on campus, including first-round pick Marcus Davenport, the 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, and Tariq Woolen, who has emerged as a star cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks.
During his time on Jeff Traylor’s staff, Williams’ work with the inside linebackers and safeties has helped the UTSA defense develop a reputation for pressure and takeaways. In 2020, the Roadrunners ranked in the top 30 nationally in five categories — 19th in turnovers gained, 23rd in passes intercepted, 25th in fumbles recovered (8), 26th in turnover margin (+7) and 29th in tackles for loss per game (7.1). the following fall, UTSA recovered 14 fumbles to rank fourth in the FBS, logged 25 takeaways for the 10th-best total in the nation and recorded 88 tackles for loss. In 2022, the defense set school records with 15 interceptions and 84 passes defended in addition to registering 92 tackles for loss and 25 sacks. In 2023, UTSA set program standard with 99 TFLs and 46 sacks while generating 17 takeaways.
Williams has helped inside linebacker Jamal Ligon develop into one of the top defenders in program history. On pace to become the program’s all-time leading tackler in 2024, Ligon has collected all-conference honors in each of his four seasons with the Roadrunners.
He also helped guide inside linebacker Trevor Harmanson to honorable mention all-conference honors for three consecutive years as well as a spot on the 2020 Dave Campbell's Texas Football All-Texas College First Team.
Williams joined the Roadrunners in 2017 and in his first season on the staff, they ranked seventh in the FBS in total defense (287.8 ypg), eighth in scoring defense (17.0 ppg), second in first downs defense (166) and 19th in pass efficiency defense (112.19).
He also played a vital role with the special teams staff in 2017. He helped mentor a pair of national award semifinalists in freshman All-American Jared Sackett (Lou Groza Award) and Yannis Routsas (Ray Guy Award), as UTSA was one of only three teams to boast semifinalists for both awards that year.
Williams was a graduate assistant for special teams in 2018 and 2019, also helping with linebackers in 2018 and cornerbacks the following season.
Williams gained NFL experience in 2017 and again two years later as a volunteer coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers during offseason workouts.
Prior to his time at UTSA, Williams served more than 24 years of active duty service in the United States Army.
A native of Newport News, Virginia, he played wide receiver at Ferrum College 1990-91 after a standout prep career at Denbigh High School.
Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in health and science from Trident University in 2011 and his master’s degree in kinesiology from UTSA in 2019.
He and his wife Laurie have two children, Chelsea and Darien Williams.
The Damon Williams File
Experience
2017: UTSA (student assistant coach/cornerbacks & special teams)
2018: UTSA (graduate assistant/linebackers & special teams)
2019: UTSA (graduate assistant/cornerbacks & special teams)
2020-21: UTSA (defensive analyst/linebackers, player development coordinator, assistant NFL liaison)
2022: UTSA (defensive analyst/safeties, player development coordinator, director of on-campus recruiting, assistant NFL liaison, NIL liaison)
2023: UTSA (director of recruiting, assistant NFL liaison, NIL liaison)
2024: UTSA (director of football relations & player engagement, assistant NFL liaison, NIL liaison)
Playing Experience
1990-91: Ferrum College (Wide Receiver)
Education
• Bachelor of Health and Science, Trident University, 2011
• Master of Kinesiology (Health and Physical Education), UTSA, 2019
Hometown
Newport News, Virginia
Family
Wife: Laurie
Son: Marquise
Daughter: Chelsea
Son: Darien