#8 Football 2/29/2016 11:12:00 AM

Bailey and Williams Join UWA Football Coaching Staff

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Don Bailey and Chad Williams have been named as assistant coaches on the University of West Alabama football staff according to an announcement today by head coach Brett Gilliland.

Bailey will serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Williams will coach defensive backs and serve as special teams coordinator.

"I am extremely excited with these additions to the Tiger football staff," Gilliland said. "They both bring with them great knowledge of football, tremendous recruiting ability, and most importantly they truly care for their players on and off the field."

Bailey comes to UWA after serving as offensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii, where he also coached quarterbacks and running backs. Previous coaching stops include Idaho State (associate head coach, OC), South Dakota State (passing game coordinator, QB, WR), Weber State (WR), Montana State (OC, QB, WR), Cal Poly (OC, QB, WR), Cheney (OC, QB, WR), Shepherd College (QB, WR), Boise State (WR, TE) and Portland State (WR).

A 24-year coaching veteran and 1991 graduate of Portland State University, Bailey has been instrumental for numerous conference championship teams. He has coached three National Football League draft picks, 11 NFL free agents, A Canadian Football League MVP, 16 all-conference and eight All-America players.

"Don Bailey is a well respected name in college football and brings a wealth of offensive knowledge to UWA," Gilliland said. "The offensive production under his tutelage speaks for itself, but I am equally excited about the positive attitude he brings with him and the way he cares for the players he coaches."

Familiar with the Gulf South Conference, Williams comes to West Alabama after serving as the defensive coordinator at Valdosta State last season. In 2014 he was the special teams coordinator and linebacker coach at West Georgia.

An All-Conference USA defensive back selection as a player at Southern Miss, other coaching stops for Williams include Middle Tennessee State (GA), Jacksonville State (defensive quality control) and Morehouse (defensive assistant). He also did a coaching internship with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL in 2014. Williams earned his Bachelor of Science from Southern Miss in 2009.

"Chad brings with him a great knowledge of GSC football on the defensive side of the ball as well as in special teams. His work ethic and demeanor are going to be a great fit on our staff and with our players," Gilliland said. "We are fortunate to bring him back to his home state and are excited to see his impact on our football team."

In a related move, defensive coordinator Nathan Burton will now coach Tiger linebackers after working with the defensive backs the last two seasons.

Gilliland is expected to fill the final remaining vacancy on the staff with an offensive line coach hire in the next few days.

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