Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2010
- Class:
- 1967
Richard Williams had the opportunity to live out a lifelong dream of coaching basketball at his alma mater where he reached record breaking heights and restored national respect to the State program.
Williams managed to more than triple the program’s postseason appearances during his 12-year tenure fueled by a program-best 66 victories over a three-season span at the time. The run culminated with trips to the 1996 NCAA Final Four and 1995 NCAA Sweet 16. He had the Bulldogs ranked among the nation’s top 10 for multiple weeks in 1995-96.
Williams broke nearly a three-decade drought after he guided the Bulldogs from the SEC cellar to a share of the 1990-91 SEC regular season title and an NCAA Tournament berth. He also led the Maroon and White to its first SEC Tournament crown as State defeated eventual national champion and top-ranked Kentucky in 1995-96.
Williams had the chance to observe legendary coach Babe McCarthy’s practices as a student during the 1960s. He eclipsed McCarthy’s win total in 1996-97 before he finished his career with the school’s most victories (191), the single season wins mark in 1995-96 (26) and the most victories over AP Top 25 opponents (18).
Williams made State history once again when Erick Dampier and Dontae’ Jones heard their names called in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft. He had nine players who amassed 18 All-SEC honors (Coaches First Team, Second Team, All-Freshman, All-Defensive Team). Cameron Burns became the fourth player to secure a trio All-SEC First-Team selections.
Williams, a two-time SEC Coach of the Year, finished third for the AP’s National honor in 1994-95. He also was inducted into the state of Mississippi’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
A 12-year head coach for the Maroon and White men's hoops squad, Williams ranks second all-time in basketball wins as a head coach at Mississippi State. From 1986-98, Williams and the Bulldogs won 191 games as he guided the Bulldogs to five postseason tournament appearances. Among those were three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a 1996 appearance in the NCAA Final Four.
Williams, a native of Oceanside, Calif., is a 1967 graduate of Mississippi State.
