Woody Williams - Baseball Coach - University of Houston Athletics

Woody Williams

Title:
Director of Pitching Strategy and Development
Email:
gswilli5@central.uh.edu

Cougar legend Woody Williams was named the Assistant Coach on Aug. 30, 2024 after serving as the Director of Pitching Strategy and Development from January, 2023.

In Williams' first season as the Cougars' pitching coach, the former Cougar pitcher mentored left-handed relief pitcher Antoine Jean to unprecedented heights culminating in Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year Semifinalist honors. Jean became the second Cougar reliever to strike out 100+ hitters in a single season and was the first reliever to win Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year. The lefty ranked second nationally in with 14.78 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, fourth with 5.37 hits allowed per nine and was 10th nationally with a 0.90 WHIP. Jean's 110 strikeouts ranked 14th in Division I baseball following conference tournament weekend.

As Director of Pitching Strategy and Development, Williams assisted Houston's pitching staff to a program single-season record 10.00 strikeouts per game and the second-most strikeouts since 2003 (540). In the 2024 MLB Draft, three Cougar pitchers were drafted, Jaxon Jelkin (9th round), Cade Citelli (11th round) and Owen Woodward (15th round), marking the second time in the last three drafts that three Cougar pitchers were taken in the same draft.

The 15-year Major League Baseball veteran joins the Cougar Baseball staff after serving as the Texas Longhorns pitching coach in 2023, helping the Longhorns win a share of the 2023 Big 12 Regular Season Title.

"I am thrilled to welcome Cougar great Woody Williams home to assist Coach Sean Kenny with our pitching staff," Whitting said. "Coach Williams' success as not only as a Major League player but also leading the pitching staffs at San Jac and Texas will be a huge asset for our student athletes. Woody has been a great supporter of his alma mater over the years and I can't think of a better individual to be our Director of Strategy and Pitching Development."

While at Texas, Williams led the Longhorns 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.

"I'm excited to return to The University of Houston where I experienced success as a player and I look forward to doing the same as a member of the baseball staff," Williams said. "My passion is pouring into the lives of young men and developing them to the best of my and their ability. Go Coogs!"

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.

As Director of Pitching Strategy and Development, Williams helps bolster a pitching staff overseen by coaching veteran Sean Kenny who spent the last 14 seasons with Power 5 programs including seven as Georgia's pitching coach.

Williams and his wife, Kim, have five children – Katelyn, Sarah, Hannah, Lily, and Caden.