The Willy Way
an inside look at the life and impact of Cody’s own Coach Williams
Written by Kenley Stevens
Coach Williams is seen by many as a pillar in the CHS community. He is a valued Coach, teacher, and role model to many of his athletes and students, and there are quite a few qualities that set him apart.
Christopher Lee Williams grew up in the not so quaint Nebraska town of Papillian, a suburb of Omaha. His mother was a physical education teacher and his father coached baseball and basketball. He is the oldest of three, having three and a half years on his brother, and five on his kid sister. This gave him a natural leadership he carries through life. He attended the third largest high school in the state, Papillion La Vista High School. He graduated alongside his class of about 430 students in the top ten percent. This is impressive, but his future wife Jennifer Rowland was part of the top five percent of this substantial class. She was his date to the Senior Prom and they have walked through life together since.
Chris attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He studied there for five and a half years due to his change in major to Secondary Education during his junior year. In 1997, Williams graduated college. He was married 8 days later, then moved to Texas a swift 3 days after that. In the spring of 1998, Chris taught 6th grade in Houston while his wife finished PA school. They then moved to Cody, where he would gradually and definitely change the scope of what it meant to be a great coach and a teacher.
Williams began subbing and was the assistant coach for the football team. The very next year, he was promoted to head coach. His coaching, which made him desire to be a teacher, started all the way back when he was 19, with his little sister's summer all star camp working alongside his dad. That passion never died. He works with his athletes and students in a way unlike any other coach or teacher.
“He’s like a father,’ says Anker Stewart, a senior at CHS.
Coach Williams’ coaching style is stern but loving, and it inspires a change and a desire to improve.
“When you have positive coaches you want to play for, performance goes up,’’ says senior Alex Sitz.
Not only is his coaching inspiring to his athletes, it is also admired by his colleagues and fellow coaches.
“His head is huge.” -Coach Engdahl
Engdahl also commented, “Very passionate. He builds bonds with the kids and helps everyone understand. Giant head. Has its own solar system.”
Coach Williams second greatest accomplishment is the football program at Cody High, “working with great men and great students.” He has truly made a difference in the lives of these young men. His first greatest accomplishment in life was raising 3 kids he is proud of. He raised them all in Cody and was able to Coach all three.
Rachel Williams, a recent Cody graduate and Williams’ youngest and only daughter, shares her thoughts,”It made me better. My dad was very good at switching between hats, whether it was being my coach, my teacher, or my dad. Having him there was very comforting for me. I always knew that he was going to tell me the truth, but in the way that helped me grow the best. I honestly wouldn’t have traded a practice or meet with him for anything.”
Chris Williams wears many hats, but all of them have improved Cody High School and the students and athletes that comprise it. Whether he is on the sidelines or in the classroom, he is constantly building the people that surround him, no matter their rank. His leadership is change inspiring. Coach Willy is truly a legend.