CINCINNATI — Tyler Williams can't wait to get started as the Taft High School head football coach.
"I love it," Williams told WCPO Friday night.
"It's just a great opportunity for me. It's an even better opportunity for these young men because I get to give all the knowledge that I've received over the past years at the programs I've been at."
Williams, a former Colerain High School standout who played at the University of Akron and professionally in the Indoor Football League (IFL), was named the Senators' coach on Friday night.
Williams succeeds Jeff Cargile, who was relieved of his duties earlier this school year.
Williams plans to meet the team next week. He said he's looking forward to engaging the community, too.
"Coach Williams' passion and energy for football and his focus on developing our student-athletes make him the ideal fit for our program, school and community," Taft principal Ceair Baggett said in a statement.
Taft, a Division V, Region 20 program, has six consecutive postseason appearances. Taft had a 4-2 record in 2020. All participating Ohio teams were eligible for the playoffs in 2020.
Williams said several family members attended Taft including his father, Terrell Williams, who is the halfbacks and strength training coach at St. Xavier. Tyler Williams also has grandparents, aunts and uncles who attended the school.
"They bleed green and gold and that's all I heard growing up," Williams said. "Having the opportunity to coach there - I had to jump on it. It's great for me and my family and I'm very excited to be a part of this success, this journey," Williams said.
Tyler Williams, a 2011 graduate, had been Colerain's offensive coordinator the past two seasons.
Prior to that, he coached the running backs and punt returners at St. Xavier in 2017 and 2018. Williams was also the Colerain quarterbacks and running backs coach in 2016.
Williams credited Lakota West coach Tom Bolden, Colerain coach Shawn Cutright and St. Xavier coach Steve Specht for helping him to be prepared to be a head coach.
"I think the world of Tyler Williams," Specht said. "He's a carbon copy of his father, Terrell. He cares deeply about people and understands kids. Taft is fortunate to have him. He will make a difference."
Williams earned several accomplishments as a high school, college and pro player. He earned several individual honors in high school and had a 30-5 record at Colerain during a time that included him playing quarterback and running back.
He was third in kick return yards in the Mid-American Conference as a true freshman at Akron in 2012, according to a news release.
He also had several postseason and career IFL honors. He had 2,554 all-purpose yards in the IFL in 2017 as a kicker returner and running back.
"His many accomplishments both on and off the field speak for themselves," Taft High School said in a statement Friday night.
