Williams Elevated to Assistant Coach
8/30/2024 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
15-year MLB vet, Director of Pitching Strategy and Development promoted to Pitching Coach
HOUSTON – Cougar Baseball legend Woody Williams has been promoted to Assistant Coach, Houston head coach Todd Whitting announced on Friday.
The 15-year Major League Baseball veteran spent the 2024 season as the Director of Pitching Strategy and Development. Three Cougar pitchers were drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft, the most pitchers taken in one draft since 2022 when three pitchers were also taken.
"It's an honor to be back at the University of Houston with an opportunity to mentor these young men on and off the field," Williams said. "Our staff and players are ready to work, and I am looking forward to an outstanding season."
Serving as the Texas Longhorns pitching coach in 2023, Williams helped the Longhorns win a share of the 2023 Big 12 Regular Season Title. On Forty Acres, Williams led Texas to the 10th lowest ERA in the nation at 4.18 highlighted by allowing just nine runs in their sweep of the Coral Gables Regional.
"The addition of Coach Williams is a huge boost for the development of our pitching staff," Whitting said. "His success as a former player at UH, 15 year MLB career and as a very successful pitching coach on the collegiate level is very exciting for UH Baseball. Woody has always had great passion for UH and I could not be more excited to have him on our staff."
The Longhorns matched Oklahoma State with a Big 12 Conference-best four pitchers selected in the 2023 MLB Draft including D1Baseball First-Team All-American Lucas Gordon who was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago White Sox.
Under Williams' guidance, Gordon became the eighth Texas student-athlete to be named Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year. The Longhorns led the league with two First-Team All-Conference starting pitchers as Gordon was joined by Lebarron Johnson Jr.
Prior to his time at Texas, Williams spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at San Jacinto College, helping lead the Gators to the Junior College World Series five times. Prior to joining San Jac, Williams coached three years at Fort Bend Christian Academy and spent two seasons with the Houston Heat.
Prior to his 20-year professional baseball career, he was a two-way standout for the Cougars (1987-88). In 1987, Williams served as the starting shortstop before leading the 1988 team in ERA (3.32), wins (9), innings (100.1) as both a shortstop and starting pitcher.
The 15-year Major League Baseball veteran pitched for four different teams from 1993 to 2007. In 2003 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, Williams became the fourth Cougar to be named an MLB All-Star going 18-9 with a 3.87 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 220.2 innings.
While Williams was on staff at San Jacinto College the Gators sent numerous players onto Division I baseball as well as to the Major League Baseball draft, highlighted by 2019 first round pick RHP Jackson Rutledge.
Williams had an accomplished MLB career, pitching for 15 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros. He logged more than 2,000 innings pitched and won 132 games with a 4.19 career ERA.
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SUPPORT THE COUGARSÂ
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by purchasing season tickets, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Dugout Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond its operating budget.
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STAY CONNECTED Â
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at @uhcougarbb.
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The 15-year Major League Baseball veteran spent the 2024 season as the Director of Pitching Strategy and Development. Three Cougar pitchers were drafted in the 2024 MLB Draft, the most pitchers taken in one draft since 2022 when three pitchers were also taken.
"It's an honor to be back at the University of Houston with an opportunity to mentor these young men on and off the field," Williams said. "Our staff and players are ready to work, and I am looking forward to an outstanding season."
Serving as the Texas Longhorns pitching coach in 2023, Williams helped the Longhorns win a share of the 2023 Big 12 Regular Season Title. On Forty Acres, Williams led Texas to the 10th lowest ERA in the nation at 4.18 highlighted by allowing just nine runs in their sweep of the Coral Gables Regional.
"The addition of Coach Williams is a huge boost for the development of our pitching staff," Whitting said. "His success as a former player at UH, 15 year MLB career and as a very successful pitching coach on the collegiate level is very exciting for UH Baseball. Woody has always had great passion for UH and I could not be more excited to have him on our staff."
The Longhorns matched Oklahoma State with a Big 12 Conference-best four pitchers selected in the 2023 MLB Draft including D1Baseball First-Team All-American Lucas Gordon who was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago White Sox.
Under Williams' guidance, Gordon became the eighth Texas student-athlete to be named Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year. The Longhorns led the league with two First-Team All-Conference starting pitchers as Gordon was joined by Lebarron Johnson Jr.
Prior to his time at Texas, Williams spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at San Jacinto College, helping lead the Gators to the Junior College World Series five times. Prior to joining San Jac, Williams coached three years at Fort Bend Christian Academy and spent two seasons with the Houston Heat.
Prior to his 20-year professional baseball career, he was a two-way standout for the Cougars (1987-88). In 1987, Williams served as the starting shortstop before leading the 1988 team in ERA (3.32), wins (9), innings (100.1) as both a shortstop and starting pitcher.
The 15-year Major League Baseball veteran pitched for four different teams from 1993 to 2007. In 2003 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, Williams became the fourth Cougar to be named an MLB All-Star going 18-9 with a 3.87 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 220.2 innings.
While Williams was on staff at San Jacinto College the Gators sent numerous players onto Division I baseball as well as to the Major League Baseball draft, highlighted by 2019 first round pick RHP Jackson Rutledge.
Williams had an accomplished MLB career, pitching for 15 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros. He logged more than 2,000 innings pitched and won 132 games with a 4.19 career ERA.
Â
SUPPORT THE COUGARSÂ
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by purchasing season tickets, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Dugout Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond its operating budget.
 Â
STAY CONNECTED Â
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at @uhcougarbb.
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