Richard Williams joins LA Tech Staff

RUSTON, La. – Former Mississippi State head coach Richard Williams has been named the Director of Basketball Administration and Program Coordinator for the Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team on a volunteer basis.

Williams comes to Tech after serving as the Director of Basketball Operations at UAB in 2008. Prior to UAB, he was the head coach at Mississippi State from 1986 to 1998 and is the second winningest coach in school history, accumulating a record of 191-163 (.540). He coached MSU to the 1996 Final Four, a season after taking the Bulldogs to the Sweet 16. Other postseason appearances include an NCAA first-round game in 1991 and the National Invitation Tournament in 1990 and 1994. The two-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year (1991 and 1995) coached 18 players to All-SEC honors. On 25 occasions, MSU players were listed on the SEC Academic Honor Roll. “I am extremely excited to have Coach Richard Williams join our program here at Louisiana Tech,” Bulldog head coach Kerry Rupp said. “He is someone who will bring invaluable experience and knowledge which will help us in many different areas this upcoming season. Adding someone like Coach Williams will most definitely be a great benefit to me, our staff, the players and our program.” Williams will be responsible for all internal operations of the basketball program and day-to-day administrative duties related to Coach Rupp. He will also serve as a liaison between the assistant coaches, support staff and senior athletic department administrators, along with overseeing the day-to-day operations of the team under Coach Rupp’s direction. “I’m excited about joining Coach Rupp’s staff at Louisiana Tech,” Williams said. “With my experience, I hope that I will be able to make some sort of contribution to the players and staff.”