Harry Williams, Jr. enters his second season on the Tuskegee University coaching staff as the offensive coordinator.
In his first season as Tuskegee’s offensive coordinator in 2024, Williams led an offense that showed flashes of balance and big-play capability while navigating growing pains with a young unit. The Golden Tigers averaged 23.1 points per game and recorded a total of 3,513 yards of offense on the year. Through the air, Tuskegee quarterbacks combined for 1,993 passing yards, completing 53.0% of their passes with 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. On the ground, the rushing attack produced 1,520 total yards, averaging 138.2 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry, led by a committee of running backs who contributed multiple explosive plays throughout the season.
Tuskegee’s offense showed its most consistent production late in the year, stringing together multiple games with 350+ total yards as Williams implemented a more balanced, tempo-driven scheme. In conference play, the Golden Tigers ranked 4th in total rushing offense and demonstrated improved third-down efficiency, converting nearly 39% of attempts.
Prior to his recent coaching stint with the Golden Tigers, Williams spent time at rival Alabama State in 2022 and 2023 serving as the same position. There, he led a balanced and efficient offensive attack. In the 2023 season, the Hornets averaged 331.2 yards per game and 22.4 points per contest, while leading the SWAC in ball security with only 11 turnovers all season. Quarterback Davis Richard accounted for 2,371 total yards and 18 touchdowns under Williams’ guidance, while running back Jacory Merritt surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and ranked in the top three in the SWAC for rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver Keenan Gray emerged as a key playmaker, recording 780 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. In 2022, Williams continued to elevate the Hornets’ offensive efficiency, averaging 321.5 yards and 20.8 points per game while improving passing production to rank third in SWAC passing efficiency. The offensive line showed notable progress as well, allowing just 16 sacks, a 22% improvement over the previous season.
Williams joined the ASU staff in 2022 from Morehouse College where he served as the offensive coordinator for the Maroon Tigers. During his tenure as the offensive coordinator, he led an offense that finished 4-6, including 4-2 in conference play, and averaged 19 points per game.
That season, Morehouse averaged 380.1 yards per game, ranking third in the conference, and posted 28.7 points per game, an improvement of 8.5 points from the previous year. Quarterback Michael Sims flourished under Williams’ system, throwing for 2,317 yards and 19 touchdowns, while running back Shedrick McCall III led the SIAC in rushing efficiency at 5.7 yards per carry. The passing game was equally potent, producing four receivers with over 400 yards, solidifying Morehouse’s reputation as one of the league’s most explosive aerial attacks.
Williams joined the Prairie View A&M staff in 2009 as a volunteer assistant and played an integral part in the passing game as three receivers had career years in receptions and yards with senior Gabe Osaze-Ediae earning All-SWAC honors. In 2010, wide receiver Shaun Stephens exploded on to the scene as he closed out his career with a bang after amassing a career-high 859 receiving yards on 63 receptions. Stephens also scored nine touchdowns and averaged 78.1 yards per game as the Panthers finished third overall in passing yardage.
In his first full season as the team’s wide receiver coach in 2011, Williams inherited one of the youngest units on the team as he lost three seniors from the previous season. Wide out Spencer Nelson flourished under Williams in his junior season as he posted career-highs in receiving yards (659), receptions (53) and touchdowns (5). Greg Thurmond emerged as a big-play threat with several late-game touchdowns as a true freshman while Deandre Cooper made a solid transition to wide receiver after playing defensive back the previous season.
Williams’ unit stepped up its play as Prairie View A&M fielded the second-best pass offense in the SWAC. Nelson closed out his career with a career-best 60 receptions for 577 yards while Cooper set career-highs in receptions (34), receiving yards (532) and touchdowns (5). Williams also did a solid job in developing receiver depth as nine wide receivers had receptions in 2012.
During the 2012 season, Williams’ unit stepped up its play as Prairie View A&M fielded the second-best pass offense in the SWAC. Nelson closed out his career with a career-best 60 receptions for 577 yards while Cooper set career-highs in receptions (34), receiving yards (532) and touchdowns (5). Williams also did a solid job in developing receiver depth as nine wide receivers had receptions in 2012.
Williams made his mark in 2013 as the Panther wide receivers were one of the most dangerous units in the SWAC and FCS ranks. PVAMU wide receivers combined to catch 245 of the team’s 344 receptions last fall and 25 of the team’s 31 touchdown passes. Under Williams, Deandre Cooper closed out his career in style as he became the all-time PVAMU single season record holder in receptions and yardage en route to All-SWAC and All-American honors. Cooper also became the first player under Williams to receive an NFL opportunity as he participated with the Detroit Lions’ rookie camp.
A native of Birmingham, Ala., was a standout wide receiver at Tuskegee and had a successful playing career as he finished with 83 receptions for 1,584 yards (19.1 avg.) and eight touchdowns. An accomplished kick returner, he averaged 23.8 yards per kick return on 19 returns for a total of 453 yards. Williams also participated on Tuskegee’s track team and was twice named the team’s MVP (2002-03) while competing in the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Williams brings his journey full circle as he returns to his alma mater. He scored his first career touchdown from current Golden Tigers head coach Aaron James before pursuing a professional career that included a stint in the NFL.
After a successful collegiate career, Williams was drafted in the seventh round by the New York Jets in 2005. He has also spent time with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Houston Texans and the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europa.
Williams, who completed a Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Houston Texans, earned a degree in electrical engineering from Prairie View A&M in 2011. He’s married to the former Joell Washington of Charleston, South Carolina. They have three children, London, Brooklyn, and Trey.
