Richard Williamson (American football)

Richard Williamson
Sport(s)	Football
Biographical details
Born	(1941-04-13) April 13, 1941
Playing career
1959–1962	Alabama
Position(s)	Running back / Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1967 1968–1969 1970–1971 1972–1974 1975–1980 1983–1986 1987–1990 1990–1991 1992–1994 1995–2000 2000–2001 2002–2009	Alabama (WR) Arkansas (Asst.) Alabama (DL) Arkansas (OC) Memphis Kansas City (WR) Tampa Bay (WR/Asst HC) Tampa Bay Cincinnati (WR) Carolina (WR) Carolina (Asst HC/OC) Carolina (WR)
Head coaching record
Statistics College Football Data Warehouse
Accomplishments and honors
Awards All-SEC Team (1962)

Richard Williamson (born on April 13, 1941 in Fort Deposit, Alabama) was the wide receivers coach for the Carolina Panthers until he retired on January 18, 2010, and was the only coach to be with the team since the team was founded in 1995.

Williamson and his wife, Norma, have two grown children, a son, Rich, and a daughter, Caroline. The Williamsons live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

College career

Williamson was a wide receiver under legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant for the 1961 and 1962 seasons. He caught Joe Namath's first touchdown pass at Alabama. He was one of five players who testified to an Alabama Legislative Committee after the The Saturday Evening Post ran an article claiming that Georgia head coach Wally Butts had conspired with Bear Bryant to throw a football game. Both Bryant and Butts later were awarded money in libel suits against the paper. Williamson was the 55th pick in the 1963 American Football League Draft, drafted by the Boston Patriots, but choose to stay at Alabama as a coach, helping the Tide win National Championships for the 1964 and 1965 seasons.

After a two year coaching stay at the University of Arkansas, Williamson returned to Alabama for 1970-1971 before leaving for Arkansas again (from 1972 to 1974). Williamson then left for Memphis State University, this time becoming head coach (1975–1980). Williamson's teams finished 7-4 (1975, 1976), 6-5 (1977), 4-7 (1978), 5-6 (1979), and 2-9 (1980). Williamson was honored with the Southern Independent Conference Coach of the Year award twice. After being fired from Memphis, Williamson spent several years as the executive director of the Bluebonnet Bowl.

Pro career

Williamson returned to coaching in 1983, when he was hired as an assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs under new coach John Mackovic. After Mackovic was fired following the 1986 season, Williamson was told by the new head coach that he would not be retained. He moved to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, working under fellow former Alabama coach Ray Perkins as offensive coordinator. When Perkins was fired late in the 1990 season, Williamson was named interim head coach, leading the team to a 1-2 record. Named head coach in 1991, Williamson went 3-13 before being fired at the end of the season.

Williamson was the receivers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992-1994 under David Shula. Williamson left in 1995 to join the newly-formed Carolina Panthers as receivers coach. Williamson, as of the 2009 season, was the last of the original 1995 staff remaining.

In 2000, Williamson was named assistant head coach under George Seifert; he was later named offensive coordinator as well, after Bill Musgrave resigned four games into the season. After the 2001 season, Williamson returned to coachng the receivers under new head coach, John Fox. Williamson developed outstanding wide receivers during his professional career including Muhsin Muhammad and Steve Smith with the Panthers. Williamson announced his retirement on January 18, 2010, after 15 seasons with the Panthers.

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Bill Musgrave	Carolina Panthers Offensive Coordinator 2000–2001	Succeeded by Dan Henning