Addison Williams

Addison Williams is in his second season as Nebraska's secondary coach in 2026. In his 17th season of coaching, Williams has coached at four Power Four programs with experience in the Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC.

In addition to his experience at the highest level of college football, Williams also boasts experience leading a defense. He was the defensive coordinator at UCF in 2023 and 2024, and Williams also coordinated the defenses at Furman (2019) and Tusculum (2016).

Williams has also excelled as a defensive backs coach. His work as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach helped UCF allow the fewest passing yards per game among all Big 12 teams in 2023. In his first season at Nebraska in 2025, the Huskers ranked third nationally in pass defense.

NEBRASKA (2025)
Williams had an impressive debut season coaching Nebraska's secondary in 2025. The Huskers allowed only 154.1 passing yards per game to rank third nationally in pass defense. NU also ranked second nationally in touchdown passes allowed (9).

Each of Nebraska's first three opponents were limited to fewer than 70 yards passing, marking the first time since 1990 that Nebraska had held three consecutive opponents to fewer than 100 passing yards. On the season, Nebraska held five opponents to fewer than 150 passing yards and 10 opponents to fewer than 200 passing yards. Against No. 23 USC, Nebraska held the Trojans to fewer than 150 passing yards for the first time in 83 games.

Individually, three members of the secondary earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades. Ceyair Wright was a midseason All-American, while DeShon Singleton was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week against Michigan State, when he became the first Husker in two seasons to have multiple interceptions in a game. First-year FCS transfer Andrew Marshall shined under Williams' coaching, as Marshall was one of the top cornerbacks in the Big Ten. Williams also showed the ability to develop young players, as redshirt freshmen Donovan Jones (10) and Rex Guthrie (8) combined for 18 starts.

BEFORE NEBRASKA
UCF: Williams spent four seasons at UCF from 2021 to 2024. He was the defensive backs coach in 2021 and 2022 and retained that role while being promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

In 2024, UCF ranked in the top 30 nationally in first downs allowed and rushing defense. In 2023, Williams guided a Knight defense that led the Big 12 Conference in fewest passing yards allowed per game (196.7). UCF also ranked third in the league in team pass efficiency defense at 120.32. The Knights permitted only 12 opponent touchdown passes, which ranked seventh nationally and were the fewest by a UCF team since 2001.

Prior to the 2022 season, Williams added the title of assistant head coach with the Knights. That season, he helped a young secondary rank third in the American Athletic Conference in team pass efficiency defense as UCF played in the AAC Championship Game. Cornerback Davonte Brown was an honorable-mention All-American.

Upon his arrival at UCF, Williams made an immediate impact with the Knights’ pass defense. Williams inherited a unit that ranked 104th nationally in pass efficiency defense in 2020, and he turned his group into a top-10 unit in his first season as UCF ranked seventh nationally in pass efficiency defense in 2021. The Knights also improved 86 spots nationally in passing yards allowed, moving to 35th in 2021, allowing 89.1 yards fewer yards per game than in 2020.

COASTAL CAROLINA: Williams spent the 2020 season as the safeties coach at Coastal Carolina, helping the Chanticleers to one of the best seasons in school history. Coastal Carolina finished with an 11-1 record and a final ranking of 14th in both the AP and Coaches polls. The Chanticleers ranked third nationally with 16 interceptions and 16th in team pass efficiency defense.

AUBURN: Williams served as an analyst and assistant to the head coach at Auburn in 2019. That season was his first on a Gus Malzahn staff, and he would later re-join Malzahn at UCF for four seasons.

FURMAN: Williams spent three seasons on the staff at FCS Furman. He coached the cornerbacks in 2017 and 2018 and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2019 season and led the Paladins defense that spring before joining the Auburn staff. The play of Williams' cornerbacks helped Furman win a share of the 2018 Southern Conference title.

TUSCULUM: Williams spent four seasons at Tusculum, a Division II program in Greeneville, Tenn. He coached the defensive backs for three seasons from 2013 to 2015 and served as Tusculum's defensive coordinator in 2016. Two Pioneer defenders earned All-America honors in Williams' lone season as defensive coordinator.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Williams began his coaching career at South Carolina, his alma mater. He served as a student assistant in 2010 and as a defensive graduate assistant in 2011 and 2012. The Gamecocks finished with a 22-4 record in his two seasons as a graduate assistant.

PLAYING CAREER (SOUTH CAROLINA)
Williams played three seasons as a cornerback at South Carolina for Coach Steve Spurrier from 2007 to 2009, playing in 26 games. 

PERSONAL
Williams earned his degree in sports and entertainment management from South Carolina in 2010. He and his wife Chelsea have two children, Ace and Lou.

COACHING CAREER
2024 Pinstripe Bowl-present: Nebraska (Secondary)
2023-24: UCF (Defensive Coordinator)
2021-22: UCF (Defensive Backs)
2020: Coastal Carolina (Safeties)
2019: Auburn (Analyst/Assistant to the Head Coach)
2019: Furman (Defensive Coordinator)
2017-18: Furman (Cornerbacks)
2016: Tusculum (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2013-16: Tusculum (Defensive Backs)
2011-12: South Carolina (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2010: South Carolina (Student Assistant)