Davern Williams Returns to Troy as Assistant Coach

TROY, Alabama – Davern Williams, a former all-conference defensive lineman at Troy, is returning home to his alma mater to coach on the defensive side of the football, Troy head coach Chip Lindsey announced Thursday; Lindsey will announce staff positions at a later date.

"Anytime you can bring a former player home it is a great feeling," Lindsey said. "It becomes a win-win for everyone involved when that former player is someone the caliber of Davern Williams. He has a tremendous track record of developing players and is a great mentor to the men in his room both on and off the field."

During his playing days as a Trojan, Williams earned All-Southland Conference honors in 2000 and helped lead the Trojans to the conference title and berth in the FCS Playoffs in Troy's final season in the league. As a senior, Williams teamed with NFL legends Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware, as the Trojans ranked fourth nationally in total defense in just their second season at the FBS level.

"I would like to thank Coach Lindsey for giving me an opportunity to come home to the school that I love. He is an outstanding coach and an even more outstanding man" Williams said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to work under his leadership here at Troy. No matter where I have been, Troy has always been in my heart. The same blood, sweat and tears that I shed as a player will be magnified now that I am back as an assistant coach."

Williams comes back to Troy following one season as the defensive line coach at Chattanooga; he had a brief one-month stint at Akron before joining the Troy staff.

At Chattanooga, Williams coached Isaiah Mack who was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award (top defensive player at the FCS level), was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year and earned five different All-America honors. Mack increased his sack total from 1.5 as a junior to 8.5 as a senior under Williams.

Prior to his lone season at Chattanooga, Williams spent four seasons (2014-17) at East Mississippi Community College coaching the defensive line. The Lions posted a 42-3 record with two NJCAA National Championships (2014 & 2017) and three MACJC state titles (2014, 2016 & 2017) while Williams was on staff.

During his tenure, a total of 23 EMCC defensive linemen moved on to four-year schools. In Williams' first season at East Mississippi, the Lions led the nation in scoring defense (7.6 ppg), while going the entire nine-game regular season without allowing a rushing touchdown. The following year, EMCC finished third nationally allowing just 14.8 points per game.

Williams spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach at Murray State. Prior to that, he worked four seasons at fellow OVC member Jacksonville State (2009-12). While at Jacksonville State, Williams helped produce at least one All-OVC defensive lineman during each of his four years with the Gamecocks, including 2011 NFL free agent signees Monte Lewis and Torrey Davis.

After beginning his collegiate coaching career with a two-year stop at Huntingdon College in his hometown of Montgomery, Ala., Williams spent the 2008 campaign at Millsaps College. During his lone year at the school, the Majors went 11-1 and ranked 25^thnationally in scoring defense.

A seventh-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2003 NFL Draft, Williams spent his rookie season on injured reserve, before joining the New York Giants the following year. He saw action in three games with the Giants, including one start, and totaled seven tackles.

Williams signed with Auburn out of high school and played sparingly during the 1998 season. He then transferred to Troy, where he finished with 164 career tackles, including 19.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a three-year starter. He graduated from Troy with a bachelor's degree in sports fitness management.

A three-time all-metro selection during his high school playing days, Williams helped lead Jeff Davis to the 1996 Class 6A state championship as a junior after a state runner-up finish the year prior. As a prep senior, Williams was tabbed the Montgomery Advertiser's Class 6A Player of the Year.

Troy University Athletics

Davern Williams Returns to Troy as Assistant Coach

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