A veteran coach with NFL playing experience who has developed Pro Bowl level talent, Terry Williams is set to embark upon his 22nd season at Bethune-Cookman University, serving as the cornerbacks coach for the Wildcats’ football program.
In what has become one of the most illustrious positions at Bethune-Cookman over the past decade, Williams has coached several National Football League draftees and pro-caliber players in his tenure with the Wildcats.
Williams' status at BCU reached its peak when he became the first assistant coach to be enshrined in the BCU Athletics Hall of Fame.
In 2017, the Wildcat defense led the MEAC in passing yards allowed (161.5) and finished 11th in the FCS. BCU was third in the conference and 12th nationally with a 106.71 defense passing efficiency.
He played a part in the development of ball-hawking safety Diquan Richardson to All-MEAC First Team defensive selection for the second consecutive year. Richardson finished atop the BCU statistical category for tackles (84) and placed himself seventh overall in the league for that department. He finishing fifth in the league for passes defended as he accumulated 12 breakups and a league third-best five interceptions. Richardson picked off a pair of passes in the Florida Blue Florida Classic, allowing BCU to collect its seventh consecutive win against in-state opponent Florida A&M.
Throughout the 2016 season, Williams worked with underclassmen that performed well on the year. Not only did he work with cornerback Elliott Miller, but he also oversaw the progression of defensive back and safety Richardson. Richardson would finish the 2016 slate being named to the First Team All-MEAC defensive team. The junior from Alvin, South Carolina finished the year leading the Wildcats in tackles, accumulating 60 on the campaign. Of his 60 tackles, 30 came by way of primary stop, adding 2.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He finished tied for third in the MEAC for interceptions (4) and tied for fourth in passes defended (6). He also collected one fumble recovery and blocked a punt on special teams.
For 2015, defensive back Marquis Drayton added to the list of All-MEAC caliber student-athletes as he was tabbed an All-MEAC First Team selection for a defensive back. The Ft. Lauderdale, Florida native amassed 37 tackles on the season, including 21 primary stops. He stepped in front of three passes for interceptions, taking one back 30 yards for a touchdown against Morgan State in the year's final home game. His three interceptions allowed him to end the year tied for third in the league in that category. He would also finish the year second in the MEAC for kick return yards, averaging 23.4 yards per return. Drayton would conclude the year playing in the inaugural Tropical Bowl in South Florida.
During the 2014 season, the Wildcats secondary was once again one of the best in the league. Bethune-Cookman finished the year ranked top the FCS statistical categories in total defense (237.8 yards/game) – almost 25 yards ahead of second-place finisher and fellow MEAC member Norfolk State (251.3). The Wildcats would go on to rank atop the nation in rush defense as well, allowing a school-low 80.17 yards per game on the campaign. In addition, opponents only touched the end zone nine times on the ground all year.
The secondary ranked second in the league in pass efficiency defense, working at a 107.4 clip. In total, they grabbed in eight interceptions, including a key pick against Grambling State in the home-opening win. It helped in the Cats finishing second in the MEAC for turnover margin (+2).
The 2013 cornerbacks and defensive backs for Bethune-Cookman were highly-touted prior to the season. The return of Nick Addison, Tim Burke (cornerback), Marquis Drayton and Dion Hanks (cornerback) only added to the addition of transfer Thomas Finnie (cornerback). The unit responded with a third place finish in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for pass defense, allowing just 149.2 yards per game through the air. The Wildcats finished second in the league for interceptions, grabbing 19 and returning three for scores. That number allowed them to finish tied for fifth nationally for passes intercepted, and on the third-fewest passes attempted (326) among the top 20 team for that category.
Hanks started in seven of the 13 games on the year at corner, usually opposite Burke and Finnie. The Miami native collected 25 tackles (16 solo), a team second-best five pass breakups and an interception on the campaign. Meanwhile, Burke’s 92-yard interception for touchdown at FIU helped spark Bethune-Cookman to its first-ever win over an FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) opponent in school history. Burke finished the year starting in all 13 games and registering 28 tackles, a team-leading nine pass deflections and a second-best three interceptions.
In 2012, the Wildcats stood as the third-best team in the nation for passes intercepted, bringing down 20 on the campaign. They also improved a spot from 12th in passing defense in 2011, up to 11th in 2012. The Cats’ 20 interceptions also ranked as the most for any team sitting in the top 25 for passing defense overall. In passing efficiency defense, the Wildcats were second in the nation, sitting just .37 behind frontrunner North Carolina A&T. For scoring defense, Bethune-Cookman not only finished second in the MEAC, but also 10th in the nation.
In capturing their second MEAC crown in three years, the Wildcats defense helped limit the opposition all season long in 2012. As a unit, the Cats finished second in scoring defense in the league, in addition to third in total defense. Since his arrival, the BCU defense has finished no lower than fourth in the league in those categories.
In takeaways, the BCU defense sat atop the league with +18 in turnover margin. That comes on the heels of the team finishing atop the league in red zone defense. That was up a space from 2011 where they finished the season second in the conference.
In 2010 and 2011, Williams guided the development of Michael Williams and Jean Fanor, a dangerous safety tandem in the first two years under former head coach Brian Jenkins. In 2010, Williams led the MEAC and was sixth in the nation in interceptions (6); while Fanor collected three picks and 74 tackles in 2011, going on to join the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent.
In 2002, Williams oversaw the development of Rashean Mathis as the BCU free safety who broke the FCS single-season interception record, won the Buck Buchannan Award for FCS Defensive Player of the Year and would be selected by his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the NFL Draft. Two years later, Nick Collins would follow as a second round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Collins went on to three Pro Bowl berths and a Super Bowl XLV Championship, in which he returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown.
Williams has worked with the entire secondary at times and teaches hard-nosed, aggressive blitzing techniques and loves speed on the outside with no excuses from his cornerbacks that they were beaten off the ball. His cornerbacks love to hit at the line, and they will never fail in working in the Wildcats Athletic Performance Center on their size for blocking out receivers.
Beginning his coaching career at Pine Ridge High School in nearby Deltona, Florida, Williams served as the defensive coach for the Panthers before venturing to Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. While at Mainland, Williams helped in engineering a defensive unit that allowed less than 20 points per game for the season as the Buccaneers went 10-1 in his first year with the program.
Williams was a standout football and track & field star at South Dade High School in his hometown of Miami, Florida. His All-American talent on the track earned him a scholarship to play football at his alma mater of Bethune-Cookman College in 1984. While at Bethune-Cookman, Williams was a stellar defensive back for the Wildcats under former head coach and NFL Hall of Fame player (Miami Dolphins) Larry Little.
After his playing days at Bethune-Cookman, Williams was drafted by the New York Jets of the NFL in the second round (37th overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons with the Jets until a knee injury ended his playing time well short of what was sure to be an illustrious career.
Williams currently resides in Daytona Beach with his beloved wife, Tonya. Together, the couple has five children, in daughters Alexis, Mercedes, Octavia and Takara, as well as son Terry Williams II.
