Richard Williamson (American football)
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
April 13, 1941 Fort Deposit, Alabama |
| Died | September 21, 2015 (aged 74) Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Playing career | |
| 1959–1962 | Alabama |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1963–1967 | Alabama (WR) |
| 1968–1969 | Arkansas (assistant) |
| 1970–1971 | Alabama (DL) |
| 1972–1974 | Arkansas (OC) |
| 1975–1980 | Memphis State |
| 1983–1986 | Kansas City Chiefs (WR) |
| 1987–1990 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AHC/WR) |
| 1990–1991 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 1992–1994 | Cincinnati Bengals (WR) |
| 1995–2000 | Carolina Panthers (WR) |
| 2000–2001 | Carolina Panthers (AHC/OC/WR) |
| 2002–2009 | Carolina Panthers (WR) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 32–34 (college) 4–15 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| All-SEC (1962) | |
Richard Williamson (April 13, 1941 – September 21, 2015) was an American football player and coach. He was the head football coach at Memphis State University—now known as the University of Memphis—from 1975 to 1980. Williamson served as the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1990 to 1991.
Williamson was a end under legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant for the 1961 and 1962 seasons. He caught Joe Namath's first touchdown pass at Alabama. He was one of five players who testified to an Alabama Legislative Committee after The Saturday Evening Post ran an article claiming that Georgia head coach Wally Butts had conspired with Bryant to throw a football game. Both Bryant and Butts later were awarded money in libel suits against the paper. Williamson was the 55th pick in the 1963 American Football League Draft, drafted by the Boston Patriots, but he chose to stay at Alabama as a coach, helping the Tide win National Championships for the 1964 and 1965 seasons.
After a two-year coaching stay at the University of Arkansas, Williamson returned to Alabama for 1970 to 1971 before leaving for Arkansas again (from 1972 to 1974). Williamson then left for Memphis State University, becoming head coach (1975–1980). Williamson's teams finished 7–4 (1975, 1976), 6–5 (1977), 4–7 (1978), 5–6 (1979), and 2–9 (1980). Williamson was honored with the Southern Independent Conference Coach of the Year award twice. After being fired from Memphis, Williamson spent several years as the executive director of the Bluebonnet Bowl.
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