Williamson Moving On From Tigers

Williamson Moving On From Tigers

If you have attended a women's basketball game at Iowa Wesleyan in the past decade, you have likely seen a constant fixture on the sideline. Steve Williamson '00 has been the face of the program for the past thirteen seasons, but next season will be different.

Williamson announced today that he is stepping down as the Athletic Director and Head Women's Basketball Coach for the Tigers to accept a head coaching job at William Penn University.  He has served as the Athletic Director for the past three years.

"I am very thankful for my time here at Iowa Wesleyan.  This University will always be a special place for me.  I am proud of the accomplishments the women's basketball program has reached during my career.  We were able to take a program that had very little success and turn it into a program that won conference championships and competed in National Tournaments," said Williamson, who has spent the last 21 years at Iowa Wesleyan as a member of the men's basketball team as a player and an assistant coach before taking over the women's program.

"I have coached a lot of great players here at Iowa Wesleyan and it was a privilege.  The players mean a lot to me and my family," Williamson added. "Just want to thank them for all the hard work they put in and the commitment they all had to making Iowa Wesleyan women's basketball something the University and Mount Pleasant community can be proud of!"

Williamson amassed over two hundred wins in his thirteen-year career and is the second winningest coach in IW women's basketball history behind Olan G. Ruble.  He coached six teams to conference championships and eight teams to National Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight appearance as members of the NAIA and a National Runner-Up finish in the USCAA National Tournament. Williamson coached numerous All-Conference and Academic All-Conference award recipients during his time at IW. He also had several players earn All-American and Player of the Year honors under his leadership. Williamson earned Coach of the Year honors three times during his tenure at Iowa Wesleyan.

"Coach Williamson has been a part of the Iowa Wesleyan community for over 20 years and he will always be a part of this university family," said Dr. Wes Brooks, Vice President of Student Development. "Coach has been a fixture in the positive relationship between Mount Pleasant and Iowa Wesleyan. The culture he has built of doing things the right way, both on and off the floor are pieces of his lasting imprint here."

"Even more impressive is the impact he has had on the personal growth and academic growth and success of the student-athletes he has coached," Brooks added. "I'd like to thank Coach Williamson for sharing his talents and leadership with Iowa Wesleyan for the last 21 years and I wish him and his family all the best in his new coaching opportunity."

STORY COURTESY OF IOWA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION