D3hoops.com: Notables

The College of New Jersey athletic director John Castaldo has announced the hiring of 1993 graduate Kelly Williams to direct its men’s basketball program. Williams, who played for the Lions from 1989-93, when the school was known as Trenton State, and served as an assistant men’s coach with the Lions as well returns to his alma mater and will assume his new role on July 1.

“The opportunity to represent the College as an alumni and former player has always been a dream,” Williams said. “I’m excited just to have the tradition of TCNJ’s basketball program continue to grow under my direction.”

He inherits a team that went 6-19 under interim coach Matt Hunter. Williams will be the team's third coach in as many years, following Hunter and Castaldo, who compiled a 14-year mark of 200-149 before stepping down to take the AD role.

Williams takes over TCNJ’s program after successful nine-year tenure (1999-2008) at Mercer County College when he compiled a record of 154-100. During that time he led the Vikings to six Garden State Athletic Conference championships and three National Junior College Athletic Association Division II, Region XIX Finals appearances advancing one of those years to the District IX playoffs. In 2000, he was honored as the Junior College, Division II/III Coaching Staff of the Year by the New Jersey Collegiate Basketball Coaches Association.

Williams returned to his alma mater as an assistant under Castaldo from 1995-99. In addition to his familiarity with TCNJ’s basketball program throughout the years, he has been employed at the college since 1995 where he has most recently served as an assistant director in the admissions office.

"Kelly brings a wealth of basketball experience to our program," Castaldo said. "Kelly is already entrenched in the college’s mission and his character, integrity and professionalism provide for the leadership building qualities we aspire to achieve within our department. As a former TSC student-athlete and former TCNJ assistant basketball coach, I have witnessed firsthand his drive, and his desire to succeed both on and off the court. His passion for the game and more importantly for TCNJ is highly evident."

Prior to his playing career for the Lions, Williams was a standout at Ewing High School and in 2008 was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame. He is an active member National Basketball Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association.

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