Bio

Marcess Williams, a talented an experienced administrator and coach, with over 15 years of experience in working in college athletics. Williams has coached a number of talented young men and women during his career.

In his return to Beaver, Williams was named Head Men's Basketball Coach once again just ahead of the 2023-24 season. In his first year back the team went 6-20 overall facing a tough schedule in the season. The team will be back on the court with Coach Williams next season to take strides into turning the team back into what it was his first time here.

Williams benefits from a variety of coaching and administrative experience at multiple levels of the NCAA, USCAA and NJCAA. That experience includes NCAA DIII La Roche University (Pa.), USCAA PSU-Beaver (Pa.), NCAA DII Clarion University (Pa.) and NJCAA Community College of Beaver County (Pa.) His knowledge and experience will help lead the Penn State Beaver Athletic Department to new heights.

Williams returns to Penn State Beaver after a 5-year run at Clarion University as the head men’s basketball coach. Named head coach on October 7, 2014, Williams was the 12th Head Men’s Basketball coach and first African American Head coach in Clarion history. 

During the 2015-16, Williams coached the Golden Eagles to one of their best seasons in recent memory.  The team reached the PSAC Tournament for the first time since the 2009-10 season, upsetting Edinboro on the road in the opening round of the tournament before falling in the quarterfinals.

Clarion was dominant at home in 2015-16, posting a 10-3 record thanks to their fast-paced style of play.  The Golden Eagles ranked third in the PSAC with an average of 8.50 steals per game and were one of the best scoring defenses in the league, allowing just 72.6 points per game.

Before his stint at Clarion University, Williams played a pivotal role in the revival of the athletic department at Penn State Beaver during his previous tenure. Not only was he the Head Men’s Basketball coach for 9 seasons, he also served as an Admission Counselor, Residence Life Coordinator, and First Year Student Seminar instructor.

Williams guided PSU-Beaver men’s basketball to six consecutive PSUAC Western Division titles (2009-14), and the Lions were also the PSUAC Champions in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2009, Penn State-Beaver finished as the USCAA Division 2 National runner-up and in 2011 the Lions finished ranked third in the final USCAA national rankings. In nine seasons, he coached six USCAA first-team All-Americans and led Penn St.-Beaver to a record of 158-99 (61.5 percent). He earned PSUAC Coach of the Year honors in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013 and was a Beaver County Hall of Fame Coach of the Year honoree three times from 2009-11. Williams also helped aid in the school's transition from NJCAA III to USCAA DII. In February 2020, he was inducted into Penn State Beaver Hall of Honor. Williams was also inducted into La Roche University Athletic Hall of Fame.

The New Brighton, Pennsylvania, native received a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from La Roche University in 2002.

Williams resides in the Beaver County area.

updated 5/31/2024