University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame
Wayne Williams
- Induction:
- 2026
Wayne Williams (Men’s & Women’s Track & Field Coach, 1998-2007 / Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Coach, 1997-2006)
Fairfield, Ala. | Auburn ’64
Career Accolades
Conference USA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year – 2000
NCAA Region 9 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year – 2000
Wayne Williams helped usher Southern Miss into the modern age after taking over the men’s and women’s track and field programs and men’s and women’s cross country programs in the fall of 1997. Williams took over for legendary Golden Eagle head coach Marshall Bell as just the second leader of the program since its resurrection in the 1980s.
A native of Fairfield, Alabama, Williams arrived at Southern Miss after 21 seasons at Alabama as one of the country’s top assistant coaches. His impact in Hattiesburg was near instantaneous as he positioned the Golden Eagles within reach of the Conference USA title. Even with the elimination of the men’s cross country program following the 1999 season, Williams’ programs continued to succeed. Southern Miss’ record finish in the 2000 Conference USA Outdoor Championships earned him women’s outdoor coach of the year honors from Conference USA and from NCAA Region 9.
Williams’ leadership saw the Golden Eagle record book continually rewritten as over 80 records fell under his tutelage. He coached six individuals to 11 NCAA All-American selections in his ten-year tenure with Raquel Washington (twice), Tanika Liburd, Cedric Norman (thrice), Wenston Riley (twice), Jason Wilson and Cornielius Duncan (twice) all earning national praise. Fifty-two athletes claimed a gold medal in his time in the Conference USA Championships as well.
After his retirement from Southern Miss in 2007, he began working at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg as the Bobcats’ head cross country and track and field head coach where he has won numerous state championships. He and his wife Judi live in Hattiesburg.
Fairfield, Ala. | Auburn ’64
Career Accolades
Conference USA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year – 2000
NCAA Region 9 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year – 2000
Wayne Williams helped usher Southern Miss into the modern age after taking over the men’s and women’s track and field programs and men’s and women’s cross country programs in the fall of 1997. Williams took over for legendary Golden Eagle head coach Marshall Bell as just the second leader of the program since its resurrection in the 1980s.
A native of Fairfield, Alabama, Williams arrived at Southern Miss after 21 seasons at Alabama as one of the country’s top assistant coaches. His impact in Hattiesburg was near instantaneous as he positioned the Golden Eagles within reach of the Conference USA title. Even with the elimination of the men’s cross country program following the 1999 season, Williams’ programs continued to succeed. Southern Miss’ record finish in the 2000 Conference USA Outdoor Championships earned him women’s outdoor coach of the year honors from Conference USA and from NCAA Region 9.
Williams’ leadership saw the Golden Eagle record book continually rewritten as over 80 records fell under his tutelage. He coached six individuals to 11 NCAA All-American selections in his ten-year tenure with Raquel Washington (twice), Tanika Liburd, Cedric Norman (thrice), Wenston Riley (twice), Jason Wilson and Cornielius Duncan (twice) all earning national praise. Fifty-two athletes claimed a gold medal in his time in the Conference USA Championships as well.
After his retirement from Southern Miss in 2007, he began working at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg as the Bobcats’ head cross country and track and field head coach where he has won numerous state championships. He and his wife Judi live in Hattiesburg.
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