Brandon Williams is in his second season as the Governors’ linebackers coach after joining Jeff Faris’ inaugural coaching staff in Jan. 2024.
Before coming to Clarksville, Williams spent six seasons as Hampton’s linebackers coach. Before his time at Hampton, he worked on the sidelines of his alma mater, East Carolina, as a graduate assistant and a defensive quality control aide.
He played four seasons at East Carolina and made over 200 tackles in 41 appearances as a linebacker for the Pirates.
Williams graduated from East Carolina in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
WILLIAMS' CAREER SUMMARY
Austin Peay (2024-CURRENT)
2024: Named Austin Peay’s linebackers coach in Jan. 2024. During his first season leading the Governors’ linebackers, Dion Hunter earned Second Team All-UAC with 97 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and three quarterback hurries; he also led APSU in tackles six times with at least six stops each contest. Hunter’s 97 tackles were fifth in the UAC and 47th in the FCS, while his 8.1 tackles per game were good for 46th nationally and fourth in the league. Bo Spearman also led the Govs with 4.0 sacks and ranked second on the team with 8.0 tackles for loss, while inducing a team-best 43 yards lost on stops behind the line.
Hampton (2018-23)
2023: Coached Qwahsin Townsel to a Second Team All-CAA selection after totaling 107 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Townsel was invited to play in the AllState HBCU Legacy Bowl and named to the All-Draft HBCU Football Team following the 2023 season.
2022: The Pirates transitioned to the Colonial Athletic Association during the offseason and had their best scoring defense since 2017. Williams coached a pair of Second Team All-CAA selections in KeShaun Moore and Qwahsin Townsel. Moore earned his second-straight all-conference nod after finishing with 58 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in 11 games, while Townsel led the Pirates with 100 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss.
2021: Hampton finished with five wins, including three victories in Big South Conference play, during its first season back from the pandemic. Williams guided KeShaun Moore to a Second Team All-BSC selection after totaling 48 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks during his redshirt junior season.
2020: The Pirates’ 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019: Hampton increased its sack total to 29 during Williams' second season as the linebackers coach and the program's first year as a member of the Big South Conference.
2018: When former East Carolina defensive coordinator Robert Prunty was named the head football coach at Hampton, Williams joined his inaugural coaching staff as a linebackers coach. Hampton ended the season on a six-game winning streak, its longest since an 11-game stretch in 2005, and its seven wins were the most since a 10-win 2006 campaign. The Pirates’ 28 sacks also were their most since 2014.
East Carolina (2015-17)
2016-17: Spent two seasons as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, where he worked primarily with the Pirates' defensive line.
2015: Transitioned from the field to the sideline, where he served as a quality control coach for the Pirates and assisted with on-campus recruiting.
COLLEGIATE PLAYING CAREER (2011-14)
Williams was a four-year letterman at East Carolina, 2011-14, and made 15 starts in 41 appearances for the Pirates. Finished his collegiate career with 203 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. Started all 13 games for ECU as a senior, totaling 124 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown to earn Second Team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Played in all 13 games as a junior, recording 69 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery. His interception came in ECU’s 37-20 victory over Ohio in the 2013 Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl. Made 10 appearances on special teams in 2012. Appeared in five games as a freshman, making nine tackles and tallying a tackle for loss before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
