Matt Williams starts his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Young Harris College baseball program.
While with the Mountain Lions, Williams helped Young Harris to their first-ever Peach Belt Conference Tournament title and NCAA Division II Baseball Tournament appearance in 2019. The 2019 Mountain Lions led the Peach Belt in double plays turned and were ranked fourth nationally in the defensive category. Williams has helped coached seven all-conference performers at YHC. The Mountain Lions' recruiting classes have been ranked in the top 10 in Division II by Perfect Game three consecutive years, including 2018 when it was ranked No. 1.
Williams came to the Enchanted Valley after spending the past five seasons as a coach at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. Williams became a member of the Valdosta State baseball coaching staff as a full-time assistant prior to the start of the 2015-16 athletic season. Williams also spent time as an assistant coach for Blazer softball in 2015, and a graduate assistant coach for the Blazer baseball program from 2012-14.
After serving as an infielder during his playing career, Williams brought a wealth of knowledge to the Blazers, particularly in the defensive skills area of the game.Â
During his four seasons as an assistant coach, Valdosta State won 120 games and helped lead the 2013 team to a Gulf South Conference championship and a NCAA Division II tournament appearance. In addition, he coached nine All-GSC players and saw six players drafted or taken as free agents. He oversaw an infield that posted a .968 fielding percentage in 2013 and led the conference in fielding percentage in 2017. As a student-athlete, Williams played second base for the 2009 squad, posted a .273 batting average, and helped lead the team to a 43-21 record and a trip to the NCAA regional tournament.
With the Waynesboro Generals, Williams helped drive the team to over 1,500 hours of community service over the course of just two months during the summer of 2014. The Loganville, Georgia, native led the Generals to the 2014 Valley League Championship and was named the Manager of the Year in 2016. Waynesboro captured the North Division title and had the highest regular season win percentage in organizational history in 2016.
His efforts as an assistant with Valdosta State softball in 2015 resulted in a 48-9 season in which the team earned hosting rights for the 2015 NCAA regional tournament as the top seed in the South region. The 2015 squad boasted six All-GSC players and led in the conference in runs, home runs, walks, hit by pitch, and on-base percentage.
Matt Williams is married to his wife Abbie Williams. He holds both his bachelor's and master's degrees in business education from Valdosta State.
