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Charlie Williams enters his third spring as North Carolina's wide receivers coach. One example of Williams' impact on the program was the development of first-team All-ACC wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, who finished his three-year Carolina career in 2008 with 14 school records. Nicks set school records for career and single-season receiving yardage a year ago and after a remarkable 217-yard performance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, declared for the NFL Draft. Nicks' teammate Brandon Tate became a big play receiver under Williams' tutelage. Before Williams arrived, Tate had just five catches for 72 yards. In the two years under Williams, Tate caught 41 balls for 855 yards (20.9 average) and eight touchdowns in just 18 games. Williams, who coached wide receivers with head coach Butch Davis at the University of Miami, came to Carolina after serving as the University of Arizona's wide receivers coach from 2004-06. A 24-year coaching veteran, Williams spent six seasons as receivers coach with Tony Dungy and the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2001, tutoring standout performers such as Keyshawn Johnson, Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green. Johnson was chosen to play in three Pro Bowls while Williams was his position coach. The 2000 and 2001 Tampa Bay offenses set several franchise offensive records, and the team advanced to the playoffs four times during his tenure. Prior to his NFL stint, Williams was wide receivers coach for three seasons at Miami, two under Dennis Erickson and one under Davis. At Arizona, Williams developed Syndric Steptoe into a big-play threat. Steptoe was the Wildcats' leading receiver in 2006 with 55 receptions for 568 yards. Mike Thomas, Arizona's second-leading receiver in 2006 with 50 catches, set the freshman school record with 52 receptions in 2005. Williams also coached one season for Lou Holtz at South Carolina in 2003, where he helped develop Troy Williamson into a 2005 first-round NFL draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings. In 1993 and 1994, Williams coached Chris T. Jones, who led the Hurricanes in receiving both years and had a total of 90 catches for 1,462 yards. The 1993 Hurricanes (9-3) played Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl and Jones led Miami with six catches for 98 yards. Williams was part of the 1994 Miami staff that led the Canes to a 10-2 finish and played Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. A native of Long Beach, Calif., Williams began his coaching career at Long Beach City College in 1984. He worked two years at New Mexico State (1986-87), four seasons at TCU (1988-91) and one year at Minnesota (1992) before joining the Miami program. Williams played two years as a defensive back at Colorado State (1978-79). He and his wife Lisa, have two daughters, Sydney and Jada, and a son, Gregory.
The Williams File |
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