Historically Black College, Alabama State University named former NBA point guard Mo Williams as its head coach Tuesday.
“It’s a great day to be a Hornet,” Williams said. “I am extremely excited to become part of the family, and I am looking forward to the challenge. Go Hornets!”
The fourteen-year NBA veteran, Williams has spent the past two seasons at Cal State University Northridge as an assistant with Mark Gottfried, his former coach at Alabama. He replaces Lewis Jackson, who resigned in March after 15 years as coach of the Hornets.
We are excited about the direction of our men’s basketball program as we moved forward into this new era,” Alabama State athletic director Jennifer Lynne Williams. “Mo Williams checked the boxes that we were looking for in the next head coach of Alabama State men’s basketball, and his passion and leadership speak volumes. He is no stranger to the South, having played high school basketball in Mississippi and college basketball in Alabama.”
Prior to his pro career, Williams played for Gottfried at Alabama from 2001-03 where he helped lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC regular season title as a freshman. He was named Sporting News National Freshman of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002, as he guided the team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He would go on to post a career-best 16.4 points per game during his sophomore season before entering the 2003 NBA Draft.
