Alicia Williams Named Bradley Volleyball Head Coach

Volleyball 1/10/2022 5:30:00 PM

PEORIA, Ill. -- After guiding Iowa Western Community College to back-to-back National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I National Championships, Alicia Williams has been named the 10th head coach in Bradley Volleyball history, according to an announcement by Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Chris Reynolds Monday.

Williams comes to Bradley after an impressive nine-year run as head coach at Iowa Western that saw the Reivers claim back-to-back NJCAA titles during the 2020-21 and 2021 seasons. During her tenure in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the Reivers boasted a 335-44 (.884) record and finished in the top seven at the NJCAA national tournament each year, including four top-three showings. In addition, Iowa Western produced two NJCAA National Player of the Years, 19 NJCAA All-Americans, eight conference players of the year recipients and 30 all-region selections during her nine years as head coach.

"Alicia's strong track record of competitive success and demonstrated ability to develop student-athletes on and off the court made her the clear choice from a deep and very talented pool of candidates," said Reynolds. "We welcome Alicia, her husband, Aaron, and their children Sam and Levi to the Bradley Athletics Family."

"First and foremost, I'd like to thank Dr. Reynolds, Brad Chandler, Jen Jones and the rest of the search committee for giving me the opportunity to be the next head coach of Bradley University Volleyball," said Williams. "I am thrilled to be a part of the Peoria community. The culture, vision and mission already established at Bradley has laid a strong foundation for this program and I'm honored to build upon that. I would also like to thank Iowa Western Community College for shaping me into the coach and person I am today. I cannot wait to bring my experiences and efforts to Bradley."

Williams is a two-time NJCAA National Coach of the Year and eight-time NJCAA District Coach of the Year honoree. In addition, the three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association Midwest Coach of the Year has garnered Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year recognition eight of the past nine seasons.

Iowa Western won a pair of national titles during the 2021 calendar year with the 2020-21 squad winning 23 consecutive contests to conclude the season this spring as the Reivers capped a 26-3 campaign with the team's first national title since Williams' freshman season of 2006.

This fall, Iowa Western defended its national title with another run to the crown. Setter Yadhira Anchante, who was NJCAA National Player of the Year in both 2020-21 and 2021, helped highlight a 33-4 season for the Reivers that included the team's 17^th straight conference title.

Highlights of Williams' time at Iowa Western include the best season winning percentage in program history (45-2 - .857) in 2014, a 33-match win streak during her first season (2013), a second-place national finish in 2016 and nine consecutive conference titles. The Reivers produced over 25 NCAA Division I players during her nine-year run as head coach, including former Brave Alissa Schovanec (2017-18).

Williams first ventured into coaching at Iowa Western as an assistant to current Drake Volleyball Head Coach Darrin McBroom, returning to her alma mater for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The Reivers finished in the top five at the NJCAA tournament each of her two seasons as an assistant coach, boasting a 90-12 (.882) combined mark during that stretch.

No stranger to the Missouri Valley Conference, Williams transferred to former Valley rival Creighton from Iowa Western after she helped the Reivers to a 118-9 (.929) record and the 2006 NJCAA national championship. Williams sat out the 2008 season at Creighton, before helping the Bluejays to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history as a senior in 2010. A Second-Team All-MVC performer as a senior, Williams averaged a team-best 3.73 kills per set for a Bluejays' team that defeated Iowa State in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Having spent 13 years at Iowa Western as head coach, assistant coach or student-athlete, Williams has been a part of 543 victories (543-65) with the Reivers and all three national titles.

Williams graduated Magna Cum Laude from Creighton with a degree in Communications (Public Relations and Organization). The Swea City, Iowa, native and her husband Aaron have two children: Sam and Levi.

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