UMS-Wright Hires Mississippi Coaching Veteran Sam Williams
MOBILE, AL – Sam Williams, a veteran high school football coach from Mississippi, has been named the head coach at Mobile’s UMS-Wright Preparatory School. Williams becomes the 33rd head coach in the storied history of the Bulldogs football program.
The school announced the hire Tuesday, with a formal press conference to introduce Williams scheduled for next week. The news was initially reported by Blake Levine of WJTV Sports in Mississippi.
Williams replaces Terry Curtis, who retired earlier this year as Alabama’s second all-time winningness head football coach. Curtis lead the Bulldogs program for 26 seasons posting a 284-69 record including 17 region crowns and eight state titles.
“After an extensive and comprehensive search and interview process, Coach Williams was selected from a group of highly qualified candidates to lead the UMS-Wright football program into its next chapter,” the school released in a statement.
Williams has built an impressive coaching resume in Mississippi over the past eight years, with a reputation for success in leading competitive programs. Most recently, he served as the head coach and athletic director at Brandon High School, where he compiled a 45-10 record in four seasons. During his tenure at Brandon, the Bulldogs advanced to the state championship game three times and secured district titles each year.
“Sam embodies the values and tradition of excellence that define our school and our athletic programs,” said UMS-Wright Head of School Doug Barber. “His leadership, passion for developing student-athletes, and keen awareness of the importance of building relationships make him the perfect fit to continue helping our students reach their highest potential. We are excited for the future under his guidance and look forward to seeing the impact he will have on our players, both on and off the field.”
Before his time at Brandon, Williams coached at Class 2A Pelahatchie from 2017 to 2019, amassing a 27-11 record. He then had a successful season at 5A Ridgeland in 2020, leading the program to a 10-3 record and a state semifinal appearance. Overall, Williams holds an impressive 82-24 coaching record, including a 15-8 playoff record, and has guided his teams to six district titles during his career.
Williams is a former Mississippi State wide receiver and brings extensive experience in both coaching and developing high school athletes. His teams have reached the playoffs every year of his head coaching career, winning at least one postseason game in all but one season.
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At Brandon, the Bulldogs competed in Class 6A during Williams’ first two years before moving up to Class 7A. His 2024 team finished with a 12-2 record after falling to Tupelo 28-16 in the MHSAA Class 7A championship game in Hattiesburg.
UMS-Wright close out 2024 at 6-7, advancing to the Class 5A quarterfinals.
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