Williams leaves McNeese for Alabama

LAKE CHARLES - Brooks Donald Williams, the winningest head coach in McNeese Cowgirl basketball history, has resigned her position with the Cowgirls to take an assistant coach job at the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide announced on Thursday.

Williams coached the Cowgirls to six consecutive national postseason tournaments in her nine seasons with the Cowgirls and compiled a 161-131 overall record.

“McNeese thanks Brooks Donald Williams for her coaching excellence she brought to McNeese the past nine season,” said Director of Athletics Bruce Hemphill. “Brooks is a tremendous coach, role model, and inspiration to all the Cowgirl players she’s coached and the members of the Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana community. We wish her nothing but the best at Alabama.”

Williams guided McNeese to the 2011 Southland Conference championship, 2011 and 2012 SLC tournament title, and led the team to the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Tournament. The program followed with four straight appearances in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) postseason tournament, including advancing to the championship game in 2013.

During her tenure, the Cowgirls posted four 20-win seasons including a school record 26 victories in the 2010-11 season then tying it a year later. Since the 2010-11 slate, the Cowgirls have posted a 130-71 overall record and 71-33 mark in league play.

"First of all, I am so thankful for my time here at McNeese,” said Williams. “McNeese is a special place because of the people on campus and in our community who bleed blue and gold and have supported us every step of the way. It's been a journey. This community rallied behind a vision we had years ago and have helped make Cowgirl Basketball a winner for many years to come. For the undying support of so many, I will be forever grateful and will always have a piece of McNeese and the people of McNeese in my heart.”

Williams was named the SLC’s Coach of the Year in 2011 and has produced 16 all-SLC selections, seven SLC all-tournament performers, two tournament MVPs, a league newcomer of the year and nine all-Louisiana selections. Four times a Cowgirl player was named the league’s Student-Athlete of the Year while 11 times selected on the all-academic team.

"I am so thankful for the many former players who made such a commitment to excellence on and off the court during my years as their coach,” said Williams. “We have been blessed in Cowgirl Basketball with such special young ladies who helped win championships, hang banners and win the hearts of many in the Lake Charles community. Their sacrifice, persistence and passion for excellence have been truly incredible. As a coach, there is not much more I could ask of them. I appreciate their loyalty and commitment so very much. These young ladies have become a part of my family and will be for many, many years."

Alabama is coached by Kristy Curry who is a close friend of Williams’ and just finished up her third season with the Crimson Tide. Curry is a Louisiana native who graduated from Louisiana-Monroe in 1988.