Keith Williams

Williams has extensive collegiate experience working with wideouts, coaching the position for the past 17 seasons.

Williams’ receivers have a strong record of success, with eight of his products playing in the National Football League as recently as 2015. Williams is also known for his prowess on the recruiting trail. In February of 2017, Williams was named as one of Rivals.com's top 25 recruiters in the nation.

Williams has made his mark at Nebraska, producing excellent results in the passing game in each of his first two seasons. Nebraska's veteran wideout group faced a rash of injuries in 2016, but combined for 138 catches, 2,130 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. The Huskers' showed big-play ability in the passing game, averaging nearly 14 yards per completion to rank in the top 30 nationally.

Senior receiver Jordan Westerkamp earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior despite a series of injuries. Westerkamp finished his career ranked second in school history in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. During Williams' first season in 2015, Westerkamp had 65 receptions for 918 yards and seven touchdowns to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors. His 65 catches were the most ever by a Nebraska receiver. Fellow senior Brandon Reilly averaged nearly 20 yards per catch in 2016, after averaging nearly 19 yards per catch during his junior season. 

The Nebraska wide receivers flourished under Williams' leadership in 2015. The group combined for more than 200 receptions, nearly 2,800 yards and 23 touchdown receptions. The play of Williams' impressive collection of wideouts helped Nebraska rank in the top three in the Big Ten in passing offense, scoring offense, total offense and third-down conversion perentage. Nebraska also passed for its most yards since 2008. Stanley Morgan Jr. earned freshman All-Big Ten honors during his first season with the Huskers.

Williams joined Nebraska after spending three seasons as the receivers coach at Tulane. In addition to his role as the Green Wave’s receivers coach, Williams was also the program’s out-of-state recruiting coordinator in 2014.

In 2014, Williams quickly developed true freshman Teddy Veal, who led the Green Wave with 40 receptions in his first year of college football. Veal’s development was the latest success for Williams during his college coaching career.

In 2013, Tulane earned a spot in the New Orleans Bowl and posted a 7-6 record. A big part of the team success was the play of Williams’ receivers. Senior Ryan Grant completed an outstanding Tulane career in 2013, finishing his career with 196 catches for 2,769 yards. Grant topped 75 receptions in each of his final two seasons, and produced a pair of 1,000-yard receiving campaigns.

As a group, Williams’ receivers combined for better than 150 receptions, nearly 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2013. In Williams’ first year at Tulane in 2012, Grant was a first-team All-Conference USA selection when he compiled seven 100-yard games. Grant spent the 2014 season with the Washington Redskins.

Williams also served as Fresno State’s receivers coach for three seasons from 2009 to 2011. He helped the Bulldogs to two bowl appearances while in Fresno, and Williams coached three All-Western Athletic Conference receivers, including first-team choice Jalen Saunders in 2011.

Williams also has NFL experience, spending the 2008 season with the San Diego Chargers in a minority internship coaching position. He was also an assistant coach at San Jose City College, San Jose State and Solano (Calif.) College. While with San Jose State, Williams coached four Spartans who ranked among the SJSU’s all-time leaders in receiving yardage.

He played collegiately at San Diego State, where he played on the Aztecs’ 1991 Freedom Bowl team. Williams was also a member of the SDSU track and field team. He signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins following his college career and went on to play in both the Canadian Football League and the World League of American Football.

Williams Profile        
Coaching Experience
2015-17: Nebraska, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)
2012-14: Tulane, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)
2009-11: Fresno State, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)
2005-08: San Jose City College, Assistant Coach (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2001-04: San Jose State, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)
2000: Solano College, Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)

Playing Experience
1991-93: San Diego State (Receiver)
1994: Washington Redskins (Free Agent Contract)
1995: Frankfurt Galaxy, WLAF
1995-96:Saskatchewan Rough Riders (CFL)

Personal
Education: Bachelor’s in Public Administration, San Diego State, 1996
Family: Wife, Ayana; Children, Keyan, Kaya

Williams Career Highlights

• Named one of Rivals.com Top 25 Recruiters in 2017
• Has 17 years of experience coaching wide receivers, including 12 seasons at the FBS level
• Jordan Westerkamp had 65 receptions in 2015, the second-most in school history, while his 918 receiving yards were third all-time at Nebraska
• Westerkamp finished second at Nebraska in career receptions and fourth in receiving yards
• Brandon Reilly led the Big Ten in average yards per catch and ranked among the top 10 nationally in that category
• Nebraska finished second in the Big Ten in passing offense in 2015
• Coached three All-WAC selections at receiver during his time at Fresno State, including first-team selection Jalen Saunders and second-teamers Jamel Hamler and Seyi Ajirotuti
• Spent a year on staff with San Diego Chargers
• Been a part of three bowl teams during career, including one at Tulane and two at Fresno State
• Coached San Jose State standout Edell Shepherd who set Spartan school records with 1,500 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2001
• Played receiver for three seasons at San Diego State and professionally with Washington Redskins and in CFL and WLAF