James Williams

James J. "Big Jim" Williams (January 6, 1923 – August 8, 1999) was an American high school and college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Don Thompson Vocational/Blake High School in Tampa, Florida from 1949 to 1965 and for Florida A&M University (FAMU) from 1972 to 1973.

Biography A native of Tampa, Florida, Williams attended George S. Middleton High School where he was a part of two state football championships. After he graduated, Williams attened Florida A&M and was the only freshman to start on their 1942 team. He subsequently left A&M and served in the Army, predominantly in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, before he returned to A&M in 1946. He resigned from Blake in May 1966 and took a job as an assistant coach at Southern for their 1966 team.

Williams returned to Tampa during the 1967 Tampa riots to help ease tensions and remained out of coaching for the subsequent two years. After he served as an assistant at Tampa in 1970 and 1971, Williams was hired as head coach at Florida A&M.

After he left A&M, Williams returned to Tampa and worked for Hillsborough County Public Schools. He died on August 8, 1999.

Head coaching record College