BOISE, Idaho?Boise State men's basketball head coach Leon Rice announced the hiring of Isaac Williams as director of basketball operations, Wednesday. Williams joins the Broncos after spending nine seasons at Eastern Oregon, including the past four as head coach.
"For us to bring in someone with the experience and success of Isaac is a great addition to our staff," Rice said. "We are really happy to add Isaac and his family to the Boise community."
Williams guided the Mountaineers to No. 1 in the national rankings for the first time in school history during the 2012-13 season, holding the top spot for five-consecutive weeks. EOU won a school-record 28 games and shared the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season championship. Williams was named CCC Coach of the Year.
In four seasons at the helm, Williams and the Mountaineers compiled a 96-32 record and earned a spot in the NAIA Division II National Tournament each year. His .750 career winning percentage is the best in school history.
Before taking the reins as head coach, Williams was an assistant coach at EOU from 2004-2009, helping to resurrect the program. The Mountaineers went 4-22 during Williams' first season before winning 91 games the next four years, including back-to-back CCC championships in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
During Williams' nine seasons on staff, the Mountaineers set or tied the school record for wins four times and EOU is one of nine schools in the country to advance to the NAIA D-II National Tournament the last six seasons. Over the same stretch, EOU has had 13 All-CCC First Team performers and three All-Americans, while nine men's basketball student-athletes earned Academic All-America status and the team maintained a 3.0 GPA.
Williams played collegiately at EOU, finishing his career in 1998 as the school's defensive player of the year, and has remained in La Grande since. He coached freshman and junior varsity boys' basketball teams at La Grande High School while finishing his degree in physical education and health. Upon graduating in 2000, Williams took over as head coach of the girls' basketball team and physical education and health teacher at La Grande High.
In four seasons as head coach, Williams guided the Tigers to the OSAA 3A State Tournament three times, including a runner-up finish in 2002. The same season Williams was named The Oregonian's 3A State Coach of the Year.
"For us to bring in someone with the experience and success of Isaac is a great addition to our staff," Rice said. "We are really happy to add Isaac and his family to the Boise community."
Williams guided the Mountaineers to No. 1 in the national rankings for the first time in school history during the 2012-13 season, holding the top spot for five-consecutive weeks. EOU won a school-record 28 games and shared the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season championship. Williams was named CCC Coach of the Year.
In four seasons at the helm, Williams and the Mountaineers compiled a 96-32 record and earned a spot in the NAIA Division II National Tournament each year. His .750 career winning percentage is the best in school history.
Before taking the reins as head coach, Williams was an assistant coach at EOU from 2004-2009, helping to resurrect the program. The Mountaineers went 4-22 during Williams' first season before winning 91 games the next four years, including back-to-back CCC championships in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
During Williams' nine seasons on staff, the Mountaineers set or tied the school record for wins four times and EOU is one of nine schools in the country to advance to the NAIA D-II National Tournament the last six seasons. Over the same stretch, EOU has had 13 All-CCC First Team performers and three All-Americans, while nine men's basketball student-athletes earned Academic All-America status and the team maintained a 3.0 GPA.
Williams played collegiately at EOU, finishing his career in 1998 as the school's defensive player of the year, and has remained in La Grande since. He coached freshman and junior varsity boys' basketball teams at La Grande High School while finishing his degree in physical education and health. Upon graduating in 2000, Williams took over as head coach of the girls' basketball team and physical education and health teacher at La Grande High.
In four seasons as head coach, Williams guided the Tigers to the OSAA 3A State Tournament three times, including a runner-up finish in 2002. The same season Williams was named The Oregonian's 3A State Coach of the Year.
