St. Aug. Track Coach George Williams Seriously Injured In Accident In Qatar

George Williams, the legendary Saint Augustine’s University Athletic Director and Head Track & Field Coach, was seriously injured in a vehicle accident while in Qatar attending the IAAF World Athletics Championship meet.

Below is a statement from the family of Williams:

“While in Qatar for the World Track and Field Championships, Coach George Williams was involved in a vehicle accident. He has serious injuries but is alert, responsive and expected to fully recover. He is under great medical care in Qatar and will remain here for treatment. The family is truly appreciative of all the support and ask that you continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

Williams was the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Head Coach. He has won more NCAA national championships (39) than any active coach regardless of division and sport.

The George Williams Athletic Complex is named after the current athletic director and legendary track & field coach George Williams. The 2,500-seat complex is located on the campus of Saint Augustine’s University across from Emery Gymnasium. The first football game was played in the complex on Oct. 22, 2011, against Johnson C. Smith University. The Falcons won 34-15 on Homecoming Day. The complex includes a FieldTurf playing surface, a world-class track, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard

George Williams has built a national track & field powerhouse at Saint Augustine’s University and an international reputation as a head coach during his illustrious 43-year coaching career at his alma mater. In addition to being the track and field and cross country head coach, Williams is also the athletic director at Saint Augustine’s University.

Williams has won the most NCAA national titles (39) of any active coach, regardless of division and sport. He has won the third-most titles of any coach in the NCAA regardless of the sport. In 2004, Williams was the U.S. Olympic Head Track and Field Coach.

Williams has won the most NCAA track & field championships as a coach, regardless of division, the most NCAA track & field championships at one school as a coach and the most NCAA Division II track & field championships as a coach. 

Under Williams’ brilliant guidance, Saint Augustine’s University has won 39 NCAA Division II national track and field championships and 33 national runner-up finishes. The Falcons and Lady Falcons have won a mind-boggling 282 individual track and field titles during the indoor and outdoor seasons combined.

The latest national title victory occurred during the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Bradenton, Fla., on May 25-27, 2017. The SAU men trailed by two points heading into the final event but won the 4×400 relay to capture the title. The Falcons scored 58 points to beat Lincoln University (52 points), Ashland University (50 points) and Tiffin University (50 points).

The victory was so impressive that the Falcons made ESPN’s The Undefeated’s Top 10 HBCU Moments List for 2017. The men’s outdoor track and field championship team was honored at halftime of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament second-round game between the University of North Carolina and Texas A&M University in Charlotte, N.C., in March 2018. A highway sign honoring the 2017 men’s outdoor national champions was approved by the N.C. Department of Transportation in May 2018 and was erected in April 2019.

The legendary coach was highlighted for his vast achievements in the 2018 season. Williams was in the national spotlight when ESPN’s The Undefeated.com wrote a feature story on the iconic coach in May. Williams was also honored in January when he was named one of the 10 most influential sports figures in the Triangle area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.) by The Raleigh News & Observer daily newspaper.