By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Tim Williams is getting back to his roots.
Williams, the Director of Athletic at Princeton Day School, has added the responsibilities of head boys basketball coach to his plate this season. The dual role is something he is used to, as he filled both roles while at Louisville Collegiate School before coming to PDS three years ago.
“I was a head coach in Louisville for nine years coach and also in Virginia for six years and Greensboro, North Carolina for two years prior,” said Williams, who was the Panthers’ co-coach with Paris McLean two years ago. “Coaching is something I always look forward to in the winter and basketball season. I know it is a lot of work but my wife and family are very supportive and they know how much I love it.”
When McLean left PDS to become the Head of the Lower School at Princeton Academy, Williams saw an opportunity to get back into coaching. He’s enjoyed working with the team in the pre-season and looks forward to opening next week.
“The kids have been practicing well,” Williams said. “They have a great attitude and are fun to coach. I stopped coaching last year and I knew I would miss it. When Paris took the new job at Princeton Academy, I thought about it and thought I could contribute quite a bit. Since the season has begun things have fallen into place. It is a great group of guys that are fun to work with and I have been enjoying myself.
“The kids have been receptive to what we are trying to do. They are smart kids and that has made it fun.”
McLean is a PDS graduate and had done a great job as the Panthers head coach. With his departure, Williams was looking to keep the head coaching position in house.
“That was a consideration as to why I wanted to step in and not bring someone in from the outside,” he said. “I’m sure if we went outside we would have gotten some very good candidates. But I think having a known commodity is good. It allows for some nice continuity.
“I had coached a couple of the kids before. With not working with them last year I missed out on a few of them. Even the new kids, I saw them coming through the admissions process.”
Having coached with McLean before not everything the Panthers are doing is new. Williams will add some new wrinkles.
“Some of the concepts we’re throwing out there in practice are new,” Williams said. “We’re doing a lot of thinking on offense and defense so we’re not quite as quick as they will be late in December and into January.”
The Panthers will open the season on Tuesday at Solebury looking to improve on last year’s 5-17 season.
“We have a lot more depth this year,” Williams said. “The kids that were here last year are a year older and smarter. Hopefully that will help.”
