Coaching Legend Williams Dies

Collegiate coaching legend Dave Williams, who led the University of Houston to 16 NCAA titles in 36 years, passed away late Wednesday night at the age of 80.

Williams was tabbed as "The Father of College Golf" for the way he revolutionized the sport in the United States. He coached a number of current and past PGA Tour players, including Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, Nick Faldo, Bruce Lietzke, John Mahaffey, Fuzzy Zoeller, Keith Fergus, Ed Fiori and Kermit Zarley.

The scoring system he invented is used at the NCAA championships and by every collegiate conference in America, not to mention its adoption by thousands and thousands of high school teams and junior colleges from coast to coast. Though now a rule, it was Williams who introduced the idea of outfitting his teams in uniforms, often featuring the school colors. For generations of American players, adhering to Williams' various concepts may be the only way they've played team golf.

Williams took over the head coaching job in 1952 and retired in 1987. He was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and, last September, the UH Hall of Honor. The Golf Coaches Association of America began honoring the national men's collegiate coach of the year with the Dave Williams Award in 1988.

Born in 1918 in Randolph, Tex., Williams graduated from East Texas State College in 1939. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, reaching the rank of full lieutenant. Less than a week after earning his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, Williams joined the faculty of the engineering department at the University of Houston.

Funeral services have been set for Sunday, Dec. 20, at 2:00 p.m. at the Wharton Civic Center in Wharton, Texas. Visitation will be held Saturday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wharton Funeral Home.

Williams is survived by his wife, Virginia, children Joel and Peggy, and four grandchildren.