Under the direction of Head Coach Jason Williams, the Belmont Abbey women's basketball program just keeps climbing.
Ever since his return to The Abbey as the eighth head coach in the program's history on June 21, 2013, the Crusaders has reached uncharted territory. This past year, the team won the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time. The Abbey was a No. 1 seed in the tournament after capturing the league regular-season and tournament crowns. A year previous, Belmont Abbey was set to participate in Southeast Regional as a No. 4 seed before the pandemic canceled the tournament prematurely.
In eight years combined, Williams has compiled a 152-82 overall record (.650) and has been named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year four times (2013-14, 2017-18, 2019-20 and 2020-21). His teams have won 20-plus games six times and he has coached a league player of the year and freshman of the year in addition to seeing 19 players earn all-conference honors.
Off the floor, Williams has been the driving force for the department's EPC (Effect Positive Change) Committee and was named the school's St. Benedict Award recipient, the highest
honor given to a member of the Belmont Abbey College community.
Williams served eight years on the men's coaching staff from before leaving for assistant women's coaching position at Jacksonville State for the 2012-13 season. A year later, he returned to Belmont Abbey to take his current duties.
Along with his duties with the varsity program at Belmont Abbey, Williams served as the head coach of the junior varsity program. He oversaw the recruiting efforts and operations efforts while at Belmont Abbey.
Under his tutelage, nine JV players ascended to the varsity team, with one, Jonathan Jackson, earning all-conference honors.
A 2004 graduate of Greensboro College, Williams was co-captain of the men’s basketball team. He was a stellar performer in the classroom as well by being named to the Dean’s List at Greensboro College and at Cuesta College. He is received his masters in counseling and development from Winthrop in 2009, where he was a member of the Chi-Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society in 2008 and 2009. Since 2008, he has been involved on community counseling services in Charlotte while serving internships at the Morgan School and a skills trainer and community support worker with the Alexander Youth Network in 2009.
Williams is the son of Barclay and Celeste Williams. He has two brothers (Darold and Justin) and two sisters (Shanda and Karisa).
Updated 7/20/21
