{"id":1187,"date":"2018-06-25T18:25:01","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T18:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/?page_id=1187"},"modified":"2019-07-01T13:12:24","modified_gmt":"2019-07-01T18:12:24","slug":"new-football-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/yearbook\/2018\/06\/25\/new-football-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"New Football Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Myleigh Lanham <\/span><\/p>\n

Western has announced that Matt Williamson<\/a> will take over the responsibility of head football coach for next year\u2019s football season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Williamson is the sixth head coach in Western history. He is quite familiar with Griffon football, as he began as a graduate assistant in 1997, and was a defensive line coach in 2000 before becoming defensive coordinator in 2005.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before returning back to Western as head football coach, Williamson spent 10 seasons at the Division I level and was defensive coordinator at various universities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Williamson began taking steps for team improvement by putting them in an uncomfortable place. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cObviously losing is uncomfortable, and we wanted to see who dealt with that well and who did not deal with that well,\u201d Williamson said. \u00a0\u201cFrom that point on they have to grow and we have to teach them how to adjust to that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Coach Williamson put the team through a tough boot camp to start out with. He wanted to find out who the top leaders are mentally and whom he can count on off and on the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is also continuing to improve styles of play and the recruiting aspect. He always tries to recruit better than the past.<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up, Williamson didn\u2019t plan on being a coach. His family members are teachers, and he was double majoring in exercise science and physical education. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, when he got the opportunity to get his master\u2019s degree paid for, he had to coach football. During his first day of coaching, he knew that is what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Director of Athletics, Kurt McGuffin<\/a>, is very happy that Williamson has returned home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was probably what brought him to the forefront, his connection to us and his ties to our alumni base is a real bonus,\u201d McGuffin said. <\/span><\/p>\n

The team is also looking forward to what changes may come with the new head coach. <\/span><\/p>\n

Darrian Bass<\/a>, junior linebacker, said Williamson has connected greatly with the team.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur main focus as a team is to buy into the program and trust the process we believe to be successful in many ways,\u201d Bass said. \u201cWays su<\/span>ch as winning games which turns into championships or being on time for class which turns into good grades. Coach Williamson\u2019s energy and dedication has allowed us to trust him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Williamson added that the comradery between the coaching staff and the players is a huge aspect in his coaching. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey trust us, and they feel comfortable with us,\u201d Williamson said. \u00a0\u201cThey know we are not going to be easy on them, but they know that we\u2019ve got their back always too.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Griffons ended last season with a 4-7<\/a> record; however, that isn\u2019t discouraging to the coach or the team. <\/span><\/p>\n

The team has a grit and a fight that surprised Williamson. They are hungry for discipline and structure as well as a win. There are expectations that the coaching staff tries to strive for. If the team lives by those expectations, there will be a lot of success.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know if they buy into what this coaching staff is doing, and they jump into it whole-heartedly, we are going to win a lot of games,\u201d Williamson said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t