New AD Williams trying to navigate Kean Athletics through pandemic

By Dorian Alerte | Published by October 8, 2020

Change has been something that the Kean University community has had to deal with over the last few months. This includes a new athletics director in Kelly Williams.

Williams takes over for Matthew Caruso, who is now Vice President of Student Affairs for the university.

Williams previously spent the last 25 years at his alma mater, The College of New Jersey, coaching and most recently as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics. Williams now moves from the Lions to the Cougars.

“There’s so many positives that came from my experiences at TCNJ on so many levels, and that will always be close to my heart, but the reality is that right here at Kean University and the direction we can go with President Repollet, is an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down,” Williams said.

Williams is no stranger to sports. He was inducted into the Ewing high school athletics hall of fame in 2008, scoring 1,218 points in his basketball playing career. He also scored just short of 1,000 points during his time as a player at TCNJ and has spent time coaching at both TCNJ and Mercer County Community College. He credits his experience as an athlete and coach as part of what has made him successful in his career.

“Having those roles as a student-athlete and being a coach have given me a full understanding of the day-to-day stressors that a coach may have, as well as a student athlete,” Williams told The Tower. “I think the ability to connect with the student athletes and the coaches lets them know firsthand that ‘I appreciate what you’re doing’ and more importantly ‘how do I make your job a little easier.”

The Kean community is excited for Williams to begin his tenure as the athletics director.

“I’m happy for Kelly and this tremendous opportunity to lead the Kean athletic program,” New Jersey Athletic Conference commissioner Terry Small said in the official press release. “He’s been a student-athlete, coach, and administrator in the NJAC, and he’s personally excelled in each one of those roles. I’m also excited for Kean University, because they’re getting a tremendous leader and an even better person. I have no doubt that the Cougar athletic program will be in good hands under Kelly’s leadership.”

Sports at Kean have been put on pause at Kean University during the Fall 2020 semester due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but that is not derailing Williams’ vision for Kean Athletics.

“My first vision is to make sure that student athletes increase their retention, as well as their graduation rate,” Williams stated. “That’s one thing that I was most proud of at TCNJ and Mercer County Community College, that their retention and graduation rates have always been high.”.The second is making sure that we have an infrastructure in place within athletics so that we can build relationships around and off campus so that they are prepared for life after Kean University and be valuable alumni in terms of giving back to the experience. And then with my competitive nature, I want us to be the model program in the state for a Division III program, and more importantly in the country and I think we first have to do that by making sure that there’s a culture in place that is supported by the president and on down.”

The cougars are looking forward to Williams’ leadership with the athletics program, with athlete development, championships, and the possibility for new sports.

“More importantly, I do want to win championships and be the best team in the conference, and be nationally ranked moving forward,” Williams said. “I also want to look to add additional sports, based upon the needs of the university to give student athletes the opportunity, after high school and having Kean University as a possible option for them to consider.”

---