Following the Trojans’ success at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in early June, Little Rock Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Milton Williams has announced his intention to retire from the program. 

“It has been one of the greatest honors and pleasures of my life to serve as the director of men’s and women’s track and field/cross country at Little Rock,” Williams said. “I’d like to thank the many athletes who chose Little Rock as their home. I’m grateful to have been your coach. You inspired me every day with your own personal stories of courage and will to win. To my coworkers in the Department of Athletics, thank you for your friendship. You are absolutely the best, and I am better for having worked with you.”

Williams came to Little Rock in 2001 as the associate head coach and was named the head coach for track and cross country in 2004. In 2014, he was named the director of track and field/cross country.

Williams was named the Sun Belt Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year in 2005 and went on to earn the award three times on the men’s side in 2007, 2010, and 2012. In 2012, Williams helped the men’s team win the Sun Belt Championship for the fifth time in school history.

Under Williams’ tenure as head coach/director, the Trojans tallied five All-American selections in outdoor track, two appearances at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and two appearances at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Over his career at Little Rock, Williams helped his student-athletes earn 37 individual Sun Belt Conference Championships across all events.

“Little Rock Athletics is most appreciative to coach Williams for his loyal 17 years of service,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. “Milton’s career has been highlighted by numerous accomplishments but none more important than the mentoring and development he provided hundreds of student-athletes over the years. Milton has helped considerably in growing the program and we are grateful for his passion for the Little Rock Trojans.”

Williams brought several years of experience into his role at the head of the Trojan program. Besides his coaching background, Williams was an NAIA All-American in the shot put in 1980 and a 1984 Olympic trial qualifier in the shot put as well. Williams was inducted into the Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Fame in June 2013.

Prior to Little Rock, Williams was the head track and cross country coach at Cabot High School in his hometown of Cabot, Arkansas.

From 1986 to 1990, Williams was the head strength and conditioning coach at Louisiana State University where he directed strength programs for all LSU teams, several of which went on to conference and national championships. During his tenure at LSU, Williams worked closely with four basketball players who were first-round NBA draft picks: Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Jackson, John Williams and Stanley Roberts.

Williams graduated from Arkansas-Monticello in 1982 and received his master’s from Northeast Louisiana University in 1984.

A nationwide search for Little Rock’s next director of track and field/cross country will begin immediately.