USF announced the the hiring of Larry Williams as athletic director on Aug. 31. This announcement comes after the retirement of former athletic director Joan McDermott over the summer. Williams previously served as athletic director at three Division 1 institutions: University of Portland, Marquette University, and University of Akron.
Prior to his career as an athletic director, Williams was drafted into the NFL in the 1985 draft as an offensive lineman by the Cleveland Browns. He spent nine years in the NFL with the Browns, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers before retiring in 1993 while a member of the New England Patriots. Williams also earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego Law School in 1992.
“It is a great honor to be selected as the University of San Francisco’s Director of Athletics,” said Williams. “I am extremely excited to help build upon the university’s storied achievements and the opportunity to guide the holistic development of the Don student athletes in the Jesuit tradition of pursuing excellence in all things, which is especially important to me.”
Gabriel Barrett, a first-year pitcher on the baseball team, shared what his hopes for the new athletic director. “I was pretty close with my last athletic director. I played baseball for all four years of high school so I was able to connect with him pretty well. I hope that our team is able to make it to the WCC championships and this can only happen if our program gives us both the space and opportunity to do so.”
