Where There’s a Williams, There’s A Way; The Life and Times of a Former Football Star

Charisma, athleticism and determination are the words that come to mind when you meet Marvin Williams. Through a career as a football star, sports trainer, youth sports coach, and full-time father, Williams has taken post-USC life by storm. He is an inspiration, a role model and an example of how breaking the rules every once in awhile can actually lead to something great. With a personality that excuses confidence, charm and an acute knowledge of football, Williams is the type of person that lights up a room while cracking jokes at his own expense; and according to his friends, he’s been the same way since he played football at the University of Southern California back in 1979.

Williams was a defensive back for USC from 1979 to 1984, during the famed ”heyday” for the football program lead by John Robison. Although he graduated from San Bernardino Colton High School as running back, he quickly switched positions in order to secure playing time. “There was no way I was waiting in line,” Williams joked when asked about becoming USC’s defensive back, “someone was already there, and if I wanted to get on the field I’d have to be something else. I wanted the heisman, the super bowl rings, the glory… waiting wasn’t an option.”

When asked about what’s next, Williams talked about continuing to coach kids, keeping a watchful eye on his own sons as they enter college football and advocating for safe football practices. He explained that he was inspired by his own past to help young players have a brighter future. “I had coaches that cared about me when no one else did, and taught me things and helped me get to where I am today,” Williams said, “I just want to do the same for other kids, while teaching them to play safe. That’s what validates all the work for me.” As he talked about coaching young players to practice safe tackling using his own injuries as an example, it served as a poignant reminder on how football has permanently altered his life, in both positive and negative ways. Although USC football taught him great life skills, he still has a “laundry list of injuries” to show for it; including a ruptured spleen, dislocated fingers, dislocated elbows and memory loss that may be the result of the multiple concussions he sustained over the years. “I want to be able to prevent that for young athletes,” he explained after listing off his ailments.

Upon meeting Williams for the first time, I was immediately struck by his over-the-top personality; he commands attention wherever he goes, doesn’t back down to even the most personal questions and always seems to be laughing at his own inner dialogue. Every other sentence out his mouth is a witty quip bashing the current state of USC football, or a vignette about his own crazy adventures when he was on the team. Even with his alumni status, he still maintains the kind of charm and quiet determination that only comes with being an athlete at USC; and according to his plans for the future, he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

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