Canisius Mourns the Loss of Former Football Coach Chuck Williams

The Canisius athletic department is saddened to learn of the passing of former head football coach Chuck Williams, who passed away Dec. 27 in Tonawanda, N.Y. He was 86 years old.

After serving as an assistant football coach at a variety of levels for 35 years, Williams was officially named the 12th head coach in program history in January 1995. In taking over a program that had not recorded a winning season since 1990, Williams was able to help build Canisius football back to respectability by year two of his tenure, as the 1996 edition of the Blue and Gold finished the season with a 5-4 overall record and a 4-4 mark in MAAC play thanks to the nation's top-rated pass efficiency defense.

After coaching at North Tonawanda High School for 17 season, Williams transitioned to the college coaching ranks in 1977 when he joined Bill Brooks' staff as the Canisius defensive coordinator. From there through 1985, under Brooks and then Tom Hersey, Canisius played some of its best football. In 1983, the Griffs became the first Division III school to win a game at Dayton, as Williams' defensive unit held the Flyers to just one touchdown in a 17-7 victory. The following year, in 1984, Canisius started the season ranks No. 10 in Sports Illustrated's preseason poll.

In 1985, Williams left Canisius to join the defensive coaching staff at the University at Buffalo. He later went on to serve as the defensive coordinator at Buffalo State before returning as an assistant at Canisius in 1992.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Williams' name to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

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