'Canes defensive coordinator moves on up to head coach

Bishop McLaughlin promoted Marty Williams to head coach, the school announced Thursday on its Web site.

By IZZY GOULD
Published June 1, 2007

SPRING HILL - He ran Bishop McLaughlin through spring football.

Now he has the job permanently.

Bishop McLaughlin promoted Marty Williams to head coach, the school announced Thursday on its Web site. Williams replaces Jim Ceccarelli, who accepted a job in California.

Williams said he was approached by Hurricanes athletic director Mike Zelenka about the job before spring practice. He had one stipulation.

"They needed to have their coach on staff, " Williams said. "If we could work that out I would be happy to be involved in the process."

Ceccarelli had sought a full-time teaching post, but could never land one at the school. That will change with Williams, who will join Bishop McLaughlin's social studies department.

"In starting the second phase of Hurricane football, the school was fortunate enough to find a quality football coach who was not only familiar with the school and program, but someone also able to join our faculty and staff as a full-time employee, " Zelenka said in a statement.

"We have every confidence that Coach Williams will allow the Hurricane to enjoy excellence not only on the playing field but in the classroom as well."

Williams has never been a head coach. He was the defensive coordinator at Bishop McLaughlin and had been an assistant at South Sumter and Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley, his alma mater.

Williams also has two sons who will play for the Hurricanes. His oldest, Tray, is a senior linebacker. His youngest, Tiger, is an incoming freshman and likely will play running back.

Williams, 49, inherits a team that lost 11 seniors and went 5-5 in its third varsity season.

"I feel really good about the people we have returning., " Williams said. "When you lose as many seniors as we did from last year's team there's a lot of holes to fill. ...I only had 18 kids out there this spring. If there was a concern it's getting the bodies out there. I want people that want to play football."

Izzy Gould can be reached at igould@tampabay.com or (727) 580-5315.

[Last modified May 31, 2007, 21:10:00]