Warriors' Williams resigns as head football coach

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 2, 2015 1:49 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Eastern Wayne principal Gene Byrd wasn't sure what to expect when he hired a shy, reserved coach who had been reared in one of eastern North Carolina's most-respected football families.

But he often -- and proudly -- stated that he had selected the "best young coach in North Carolina" who could infuse some new blood, energy and enthusiasm into a floundering program rich with athletic talent.

Guy "Bubba" Williams lived up to Byrd's expectations. During his six-year tenure, he guided the Warriors to unprecedented heights and revitalized a community that starved to support a consistent winning team.

But the two parted ways Friday afternoon.

Williams resigned to become the new head football coach at Corinth-Holders High School.

"This was the hardest (decision)," Williams said. "The community has been great, the people at the school have been great, I've had better people to work with every day and better kids to coach. I couldn't have asked for a better first job.

"It about me beat me up personally. I've been going back and forth. It's a situation too good for me to turn down."

The decision comes at a crossroads for each program - EW will look to sustain its current success in a brutal split-classification conference, while C-H is preparing to move to 4-A during the next realignment.

The Warriors are one of 14 teams searching statewide for a new head coach. Byrd said the vacancy has been listed on the N.C. High School Athletic Association website.

"We will keep our options open and see what happens," Byrd said. "It will be hard to replace Coach Williams, but we feel confident that we will have many qualified candidates. The student-athletes at Eastern Wayne are hard working and dedicated, and we hope to find a coach that will continue to provide the leadership they deserve.

"Corinth-Holders is very fortunate to have someone of Coach Williams' caliber as their new coach. There may not be a better coach anywhere. He has a great rapport with the students he teaches and coaches, and has made a positive impact on them.

"This is a great loss for Eastern Wayne."

Despite dealing with a revolving door of coaches during his first three seasons and losing players from military families due to reassignment, Williams diligently -- and patiently -- worked to push the program in a positive direction. Three of his first four teams recorded a losing record, except the 2010 squad that seized a share of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference championship.

It was the Warriors' first league crown since 1978 and just the second overall in program history.

His final two seasons were the most memorable.

Eastern Wayne recorded back-to-back 11-win campaigns and finished runner-up in the NCHSAA eastern 3-A regional final on each occasion. The Warriors established single-season records for points scored (518), points per game (37.0) and margin of victory (16.6 points/game).

The .778 winning percentage is second only to Bill Garner's 1978 team that finished 10-2 (.833) and won the Mideastern 4-A regular-season championship.

"My biggest challenge was learning how to be a head coach," Williams said. "You always think you want to be a head coach. You get there and your plan doesn't work out like you drew it up. We were just trying to build a program."

Once Williams had a solid staff in place and his teaching role reduced, the program's culture began to change. The players bought into his philosophy, committed themselves in the weight room, worked out during the summer months and soon enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

Athleticism proved critical as Williams and his staff worked to groom linemen on both sides of the ball. Opposing coaches raved about how Williams had turned things around and set a new standard -- particularly for 3-A county foes Charles B. Aycock and Southern Wayne.

Williams departs as the lone head coach in EW history to log a winning record (38-34-0, .528) during his career. He is tied with Joe Mitchell for the second-most career victories behind Garner, who compiled a 201-282-4 worksheet in 17 seasons.

"I hope the things that have happened over the past two years continue," Williams said. "I can't say enough about the community support. The kids did all of the work, the administration put the coaching staff in place. They all helped to build the program. I'm just one little tiny piece that's going to move on.

"It's been exciting."

And undoubtedly memorable, too.