Lee Williams is the third head coach in program history. Williams took over for Matt Barnes in August of 2014, when Barnes stepped down to move to his home state and accept the head coaching position at San Francisco State. In less than three weeks, Williams stepped up from an assisting coaching role and had the task of bringing in all this season’s team and preparing them for the 2014 season. LCU had a solid season with Williams as their interim head coach. They finished tied for second in the Heartland Conference with a 6-2-0 conference mark and went 9-6-1 overall. During a period of the season, LCU had the nation’s best active conference win streak in NCAA Div. II. They went 4-0-0 in conference road play and produced three All-Conference honors. They completed the success despite beginning the season with only three returning starters. The interim tag was removed and Williams was announced as the team's head coach at the conclusion of the season.
Before Barnes departed, Williams was his assistant coach for the Chaps. He handled a vast majority of the recruiting efforts during the offseason, as the Chaps replaced 12 seniors from the 2013 squad. He joined the LCU staff for his first season in 2013 after spending the prior two seasons as an assistant coach with Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. While at OLLU, Williams obtained a master’s degree in nonprofit management. He served on staff of both the men’s and women’s programs at OLLU. The women’s team went 9-9-1 in 2012, with a 6-3-1 Red River Athletic Conference record to tie for fourth place and earn a spot in the RRAC Tournament. The men went 12-8-1 overall and earned a trip to the NAIA National Championship berth and their first RRAC title with a 9-2 conference mark. Williams also works with the Classic Elite Soccer Academy and the Pre Academy and USSF Development Academy, as he holds USSF "A" UEFA "B" Licenses.
The Aberystwyth, Wales native started his coaching career at the age of 18 with the staff of Swansea City FC of the English Premier League. He moved to England to complete his college education and also assisted the youth development staffs of English Championship League’s Birmingham City and Leicester City. After completing his degree, Williams moved to the U.S. to continue his coaching education. He coached for British Soccer as a club trainer for five years, and was involved in club soccer coaching in Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and San Antonio. After leaving British Soccer, Williams joined SA United coaching U18 Boys, New Braunfels Rapids with the U12 Lady Rapids, Boys Academy and DFW Tornados U13 Girls and U15 Boys.
Williams played for the Swansea City youth program before going on to play for Llanelli AFC in the Welsh Premier League. During that time he was selected to play for Welsh Colleges playing against Australia and South Africa. He played in the lower tiers of English football, playing for Worcester City (Conference North), Thurrock FC (Conference South). While pursuing his education, he was player/coach and started all three years at the University of Worcester and captained the team for two years to two regional championships and ranked ninth in BUSA. Williams was selected to play for Midlands Representative Universities for two years running and captained the team in his final year. He was then selected for the England Universities squad to play in a tournament against all the home nations (Wales, Scotland and Ireland), which the team won. After coming to the U.S., Williams played for the Minnesota Thunder practice squad (USL-1), and Rhode Island Stingrays (PDL) before pursuing coaching fulltime.
Along with his degree earned at OLLU, Williams has earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Sciences from the University of Worcester in Worcestershire, England, an Associate of Science in Sports Studies and an Associate of Arts in Leisure and Tourism from Gorseinon College in Swansea, Wales. Lee is married to Stephanie and the couple enjoy time with daughter Scarlette.
