Mark W. Williams
Encyclopedia
Mark W. Williams is a former US Army Ranger and participant in D-Day
. After a successful business career, he entered sports to be an American football
coach at the college level and currently is an associate professor emeritus of Business Administration at Carroll University.
when he and other Rangers climbed the 100-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc
near Omaha Beach
, facing heavy German defenses at the top.
at Hobart College
in Geneva, New York
. He also was able to complete two separate tryouts for the upstart "old" Baltimore Colts but did not make the professional team. Williams graduated from Hobart in 1949 and then went on to study sociology at New York University
until 1951 and later would complete a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
.
Williams became the 25th head college football
coach for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers (now called Carroll University) located in Waukesha, Wisconsin
and he held that position for four seasons, from 1978 until 1981. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 12 wins, 24 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him tenth at Carroll College in total wins and 20th at Carroll College in winning percentage.
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
. After a successful business career, he entered sports to be an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach at the college level and currently is an associate professor emeritus of Business Administration at Carroll University.
Military service
Williams is a former US Army Ranger. He participated in what is considered to be one of the most dangerous missions of D-DayD-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
when he and other Rangers climbed the 100-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc
Pointe du Hoc
Pointe du Hoc is a clifftop location on the coast of Normandy in northern France. It lies 4 miles west of Omaha Beach, and stands on 100 ft tall cliffs overlooking the sea...
near Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
, facing heavy German defenses at the top.
Playing history
Williams played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
in Geneva, New York
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
. He also was able to complete two separate tryouts for the upstart "old" Baltimore Colts but did not make the professional team. Williams graduated from Hobart in 1949 and then went on to study sociology at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
until 1951 and later would complete a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
.
Coaching history
After leaving a successful career in business and making nationwide headlines, Williams took a significant pay cut with a major change in personal lifestyle to become a collegiate head football coach.Williams became the 25th head college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers (now called Carroll University) located in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
and he held that position for four seasons, from 1978 until 1981. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 12 wins, 24 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him tenth at Carroll College in total wins and 20th at Carroll College in winning percentage.