Agnes Scott Names Williams to Coach Georgia's First Collegiate Lacrosse Team

Agnes Scott College has named veteran lacrosse coach and player Nicolle Williams to build its varsity college program for the sport -- the first in Georgia.

“We hired Coach Williams for her outstanding depth of experience, not only as a coach, but as a player with tremendous success on the national level,” said Joeleen Akin, athletic director at Agnes Scott. “We believe she has the insight, talent and vision necessary to establish and build a strong, new Lacrosse program for Agnes Scott.”

Agnes Scott College is recruiting team members and will field its first lacrosse team in fall 2009.

“The timing is perfect for Agnes Scott College to begin a lacrosse program,” Akin said. “The sport is gaining such a wide following around the country, particularly in Georgia and the Southeast. The addition of the lacrosse program will allow high school athletes to continue their playing careers as Scotties.”

Decatur resident Williams has served over the past five years as lead coach for two local lacrosse clubs, Dixie Chix Lacrosse Academy and most recently, Hotlanta Lacrosse Company. A member of the Georgia Lacrosse Umpire Board, Williams is vice president of the Women’s Division of the Georgia Lacrosse Foundation Regional Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse.

“The growth of lacrosse in the state of Georgia is remarkable,” Williams said. “We have doubled the number of high school, middle school and recreational programs in the past five years. The skill level continues to improve as lacrosse is played year round and newcomers are picking up the sticks at younger ages. I believe the sky is the limit for our new team here at Agnes Scott.”

In October, Williams received the U.S. Lacrosse Youth Excellence Award for Girls’ Coach of the Year. Prior to her arrival to Georgia, Williams was the varsity lacrosse coach at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. for five years. There she amassed a 67-10-2 record as a coach, including a perfect 17-0 season in 1996, when her team won the New England Championship.

“The first step towards building a program is getting the word out to talented, student-athletes that Agnes Scott lacrosse is here,” Williams said. “Attending games and tournaments, meeting club and high school coaches and using the contacts I have established over my time as both a player and coach will all be a part of it.”

As a player, Williams was a goalie for St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., where her teams reached the Division III, NCAA National Tournament three times. The Saints appeared in the semifinals in 1989 and finals in 1990. Williams set school records for single-season goals-against average (5.01), career saves (583), career-goals against average (5.69) and was inducted into the St. Lawrence University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

“Success is about learning, improving and desire,” Williams said. “It is my plan to develop a team that wants to truly comprehend the skills and game of lacrosse, a team that is willing to be better tomorrow than they were today, and a team that is prepared to put forth their greatest effort every time they step on the field. If we do all of those things, we will be successful here at Agnes Scott.”

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Thrashers Sign Unrestricted Free Agent Forward Jason Williams

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed unrestricted free agent forward Jason Williams, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Williams, 27, recorded 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in 43 games with the Chicago Blackhawks last season. He recorded a season-high six-game point streak from Feb. 23 – Mar. 4, recording nine points (three goals, six assists) in that span and tallied a career-high four points (one goal, three assists) on Oct. 20 at Toronto. The 5-11, 195-pound right wing missed 39 games last season due to injury.

The native of London, Ontario has appeared in 296 career NHL games with Chicago and Detroit, recording 158 points (66 goals, 92 assists). He has registered two points (one goal, one assist) in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Red Wings and was a member of the 2002 Stanley Cup Championship team.

Williams represented Canada at the 2006 World Championships, recording seven points (two goals, five assists) in nine games. He played with Assat Pori of SM-Liiga in Finland during the 2004-05 season and recorded 43 points (26 goals, 17 assists) in 43 games. He spent parts of three seasons in the American Hockey League from 2000-2003, tallying 94 points (70 goals, 94 assists) in 173 games with Cincinnati and Grand Rapids.

Prior to his professional career, Williams played four seasons of junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, where he recorded 194 points (74 goals, 120 assists) in 249 career regular-season games. He added eight points (four goals, four assists) in 24 OHL playoff games and was named to the OHL Third All-Star Team following the 1999-00 season.

Williams was originally signed as a free agent by the Red Wings on Sept. 18, 2000 and was traded to Chicago for Kyle Calder on Feb. 26, 2007.