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Dennis Williams is entering his first season with the Falcon hockey program as an assistant coach, as he returns to his alma mater after a very successful start to his coaching career. In just six years as a coach, Williams has not only proven himself as a solid teacher of the game of hockey, but he has also proven he has the capability to change the direction of a program. Prior to serving as an assistant coach for former Falcon assistant coach Danton Cole at Alabama-Huntsville in 2007-08, Williams was the head coach at Neumann College in Aston, Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2006. In just three short years, the former BGSU forward built the Knights into a powerhouse, going from 3-21-1 the year before he arrived to 17-5-5 in his final season behind the bench. In his three seasons with the Knights, he racked up a 35-32-8 record, which included the school's two best seasons in program history. In his first season at the helm, William's Knights recorded the school's lowest penalty-minute total for a season, as well as their best-ever power play percentage (14%) and penalty kill percentage (80%). His 2006-07 squad - the best in Neumann history - then finished with the program's best overall record of 17-5-5 and the school's best conference record at 8-3-4. The team advanced to the Eastern College Athletic Conference West men's ice hockey tournament final and finished the season ranked third in the nation. Additionally, the 2006-07 Knights' squad was recognized as having the best power play in the country and finished with three players ranked in the top-5 nationally in points. Williams played for the Falcons from 1997 to 2001. The forward competed in 117 career games and compiled 20 career points (12g, 8a), including two career game-winning goals. He was the Howard Brown Coaches' Award recipient following the 2000-01 season, recognizing him as the person who best exemplified professional qualities both on and off the ice en route to leading the Falcons to a CCHA semifinal appearance that season. Following his graduation in 2001, Williams served as coach Paluch's first graduate assistant at BG in 2002, before moving on to serve as an assistant coach for one season at Utica College during the 2003-04 season. "I'm tremendously excited to add Dennis Williams to our coaching staff," said head coach Scott Paluch. "He has a great passion for Falcon hockey and his work ethic as a coach has always been very evident. He has already accomplished quite a bit in his young career and his return to BG will be a great addition for our program." A native of Stratford, Ontario, Williams earned his master's degree in Marketing Education from BGSU in 2003 and his bachelor's of science degree in sport management in the summer of 2001, graduating cum laude. He and his wife, Hollie, reside in Bowling Green. |
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