StrengthCoach SetsGood Example

By Becky Griggs

Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Dave Williams may remain behind the scenes,but he is a true leaderintheLU athletic program.

Williamshasbeen head strengthcoachfor eightyears. His main responsibility is toplan a complete conditioning program for allof the intercollegiate sports and to supervise theathletesas they work out. Although heis responsible for allsports,football requires most of his time and effort.

Williams considershis work very rewarding. "I enjoy gettingtoseeathletesreach theirpotential,"he said. "It is greattosee them getting bigger, faster, stronger,and developing as a whole athlete. It is fulfilling to me becauseI seethefruit of my laborinevery game I go to."

Williams has set a good Christian example for the athletes and has had the opportunity to win severalto Christ. "Every yearthereis always one ortwo thatclaim tobe a Christian when they come here and then realize they aren'tsaved," he said.

One of his most memorable experiences was being with Barry Rice,an LU graduate who isnow assistant strengthcoach,when he was saved. They were in ahotel room on aroad tripwhen Barry realized thathe was not a Christian "You could really feel the Holy Spirit's presence inthathotelroom," Williams said.

Williams stressestheimportance ofbeing agood witnessfor God withhis athletes "They need to realize that it'snot just playing a ball game, it'srepresenting the Lord,"he said. "The athletesshould properly represent theLord by theiractionsand reactions Ithinkthe Lord ispleased when we give 100percenteffort You can'tbe thebestChristianyou can be ifyou loaf. Infootball,we knock 'em down,but we help 'em backup."

Physically, Williamsdesires for theathletesto become a "totalpackage." "We haveto developatotalconditioningprogram," he said. "They have tobe abletouse the strength they develop. W e stress technique that will carry over totheir sport."

WilliamsspentthreeyearsintheArmy and servedhis militaryduty inKorea. He obtained amaster'sdegreein PhysicalEducation at theUniversity of Alabama,where he gained experience asan assistantstrengthand conditioningcoach. He thenmoved onto becomeheadstrength and conditioning coach atTexas A&M.

Because he has coached ata secular school,Williams recognizesa differencebetweenChristianandnon-Christianathletes "A Christianathletedraws on theLord for strength," he said. "Christian athletic teams bear one another's burdens through prayer and support. Christianathletesarealsoableto overcome stress and fatigue, becausetheyknow theycandoall thingsthroughChrist."

He has alsolearned tobe humble throughout his career as a strength coach "There isno corporate ladder to climb," Williams said "Being strength coachrequiresaservant'sattitudeand adesireto see people get better."

LU athleticsare a toppriorityto Williams,and itis his personalgoalto see thattheyimprove "My goal is to helpLU athleticsbethe best," hesaid "I would like to see usbenationalchampions and see athletes and coaches on television giving the Lord all the glory Iwould also liketosee more LU athletesin professionalsportswith thetestimony of Sid Bream (Atlanta Braves first baseman)."

Williams considers his job a hobby. "I enjoy experimenting with differentmethods of training," he said. "I sometimes feel funny gettingpaid for it!"

Coach Williams isa true man of God. With his knowledge ofphysicalaswellasspiritualstrength, he hasmade alastingimpression on thelives of LU athletes.