SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Larry Williams, who was appointed as the University of San Francisco's new Director of Athletics on Aug. 31,  was introduced publicly to the media and Dons faithful on Monday afternoon at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.

Williams comes to the Hilltop with a wealth of knowledge and experience working in collegiate athletics. Having been an offensive linemen in the NFL for eight years and two-time All-American at Notre Dame, Williams enjoyed success off the field as well as he earned his law degree from the University of San Diego while playing in the NFL. After his playing days had wrapped up, Williams practiced law at Bakers & Daniels, an Indianapolis based law firm, for six years. 

He arrives in San Francisco with three previous stops as the Director of Athletics at Portland, Marquette and most recently Akron. With a unique tradition of history on the Hilltop, Williams' experience adds a new and unique layer to the USF athletic department as the Dons aim to continue its proud history of success academically and athletically. 

"Integrity is very important to me," Williams said. "Integrity has two aspects to it: the first is honesty, but the other one that is often missed is unity. If it's honest but not unified, it can go in all different types of directions. But if it's unified, then we are in really good shape."

With a new era of operations being ushered into college athletics, Williams looks forward to leading the Dons into the future.

"We are in a very incredible time of transformation in college athletics," Williams said. "The paradigms are shifting significantly in the way we fund the enterprise we call intercollegiate athletics, especially at the Division I level. The real core to college athletics is the connection between athletics and academics."

Born and raised in Orange County, Williams was attracted to the Hilltop as a destination because of the numerous elements that embody USF Athletics. As the world adapts, so does the university, with athletics at the forefront of the plan into 2023 and beyond. 

"We can continue to define what college athletics is at USF and I'll argue better than anyone else," Williams said. "The city of San Francisco is such a dynamic city and it's amazing to me how much activity there is here and it's a fantastic crucible to be able to teach our young men and young women through sport in this environment."

Williams and his wife Laura Lee have five children that each graduated from Jesuit high schools, with four of the five going on to compete as student-athletes for Division I institutions. 

To view the full press conference, please click here.

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SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.