Ryan Williams is set to begin his ninth season at the helm of the Adrian College men and women’s golf programs.
During his active tenure, Williams has produced nine All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) honorees, including two first-teamers. Additionally, he has coached three Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Scholar All-Americans and eight Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Scholar All-Americans.
In his first season, the Williams-led Bulldogs had two runner-up finishes in conference automatic qualifying events. On April 18, 2014, Adrian was only one stroke off the pace of host Hope College and the following day just four shots away from the Flying Dutchmen. Connor Doria was medalist in both events with a 70 and 72.
On the women's side, the Bulldogs had their best season of Williams' tenure so far with a first-place finish at its own Adrian College Spring Invitational victory to conclude the 2015-16 campaign. Adrian finished with four individuals in the top-10.
In 2016-17, senior Emily Bristow earned the MIAA Sportsmanship Award. She also recorded a 77 on Sep. 19 at The Medalist Golf Club in Marshall, setting a Bulldog record in their MIAA Jamboree history.
During the 2017-18 campaign, senior Elizabeth Barrett repeated on the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar squad. He also coached sophomore Brooke Symons to the All-MIAA Second Team, which is the first time in 17 years that an AC woman garnered all-conference.
Last season, junior Hailey Scott earned a spot on the 2019-20 All-MIAA Second Team and senior Symons, Scott and sophomore Alexis Weston earned WGCA All-American Scholar. Weston also achieved the award in her 2018-19 freshman season, giving Adrian 10 WGCA citations in history--all occurring under Williams' watch.
Williams also serves as the director of the athletic department's popular annual fund-raising event Adrian Bulldog Club Golf Outing held in early June.
Williams worked as the assistant dean of undergraduate admissions at Clarkson University, an NCAA Division III institution in Potsdam, N.Y., while helping coach the men's golf program from 2011 to 2013 as a volunteer assistant. He handled many duties for the Golden Knights including practice plans, transportation and recruiting. Clarkson placed second in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Upstate Championships out of nine teams in 2012. Williams also helped mentor two Liberty League All-Academic selections that year.
Williams graduated from the University of Rochester in New York state in May 2011 with a bachelor's degree in financial economics and a minor in mathematics. He was a team captain on the men's golf team from 2009-11 and was named to the All-Liberty League First Team in 2008 and 2010. In addition, Williams was a two-time NCAA Division III Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scholar All-American in 2010-11.
