Nick Williams Staff

Nick Williams enters his second season with the Notre Dame women[apos]s lacrosse program in 2012 after serving as an assistant at his alma mater, Towson University, for the 2010 campaign.

With the Irish, Williams oversees the defense and works with the team[apos]s goalkeepers, while also assisting with recruiting, scouting opponents and camps and clinics.

In his first season with the Irish in 2011, Williams helped tutor a Notre Dame defense that finished near the top of the BIG EAST in several goalie and defensive categories, including caused turnovers per game (3rd, 9.47), goals against average (3rd, 9.58) and save percentage (4th, .427).

Williams also helped coach senior defender Jackie Doherty, who earned first team All-America honors from the Intercollegiate Women[apos]s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA, first team IWLCA West/Midwest all-region accolades, first team all-BIG EAST honors and a spot on the BIG EAST All-Tournament team, and senior defender Lauren Fenlon, who was named to the IWLCA West/Midwest all-region second team.

Doherty finished first in the BIG EAST in caused turnovers per game (2.42) and second in ground balls per game (2.89), while goalie Ellie Hilling was fifth in the league in saves per game (7.00), including third during conference games only (7.12).

[quote]I am excited to retain Nick as our defensive coordinator here at ND,[quote] said head coach Christine Halfpenny. [quote]Both Nick and I share a vision for a strong attacking defensive unit that is dynamic and tough. Having played the men[apos]s game, he has knowledge that will help our systems and schemes as the women[apos]s game continues to evolve. His positive energy and high lacrosse IQ will certainly help our program as we strive to win championships.[quote]

During his lone season at Towson, Williams helped the Tigers[apos] women[apos]s team to a 13-3 overall record, a first-ever at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament and a final ranking of seventh in the nation, the highest ranking in the school[apos]s history.

At Towson, Williams served as the goalie coach with Tiger goalkeeper, Mary Teeters, earning second team all-conference honors. Assisting with both the offense and defense, he helped coach the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year, three first team all-CAA picks, two second team choices and two all-rookie selections.

A two-sport athlete at Towson University, Williams graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor[apos]s Degree in sports management.

A four-year member of the Tigers[apos] men[apos]s lacrosse team, Williams played 61 career games and helped Towson to a pair of CAA championships. He scored 29 goals with 22 assists in his career, including a career-best, four-goal game against Cornell in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

The Baltimore, Md., native also was a football standout at Towson and is the fifth-leading rusher in school history with 1,985 yards during his career. As a sophomore, Williams rushed for 911 yards in 11 games, including a career-high 169 yards in a win over Delaware. He was a third team all-Atlantic 10 selection at running back following his sophomore year.

Williams also picked up coaching experience in both sports as he served as an assistant coach of the women[apos]s lacrosse team at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., during the spring of 2009 where he worked with the offensive attack and served as the school[apos]s recruiting coordinator. He followed that with a season as the running backs coach at his high school alma mater – Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore – during the fall of 2009.