Why this former Fresno State standout is excited about coaching football for the first time
Former Fresno State wide receiver Paul Williams always had an interest in coaching football, but it had to wait: He was busy coaching his now 10-year-old daughter’s soccer teams.
But then Fresno City College called and Williams accepted. He’ll be the Rams’ wide receivers coach.
“I want to help the guys,” he said. “I’m approaching coaching like teaching. I’ve been there and I just want to see guys successful at this JC level. You want to develop them and become a Division I athlete and hopefully go on.
“That’s my goal: to get guys to Division I colleges and help them to achieve their dreams.”
Rams head coach Tony Caviglia called Fresno State defensive backs coach J.D. Williams – Paul Williams’ older brother – to ask if Paul had any desire to coach.
“It went from there,” Paul Williams said. “My wife let me pursue coaching. It’s something I’ve always been wanting to do. I just didn’t have a whole lot of time.”
It has been a while since Williams, 36, played football.
He last played in 2010 with the Houston Texans.
Williams was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft.
Williams went from Avenal High to Fresno State, where he played from 2003-2006 and totaled 72 receptions for 1,048 yards and eight touchdowns.
“The level of football that I’ve been around and seen has definitely told me to come and coach guys,” he said. “The game doesn’t change too much. You kind of know how things are supposed to look. It’s easier to correct a guy or having them do the correct things because you already know how things work.”
