COMMERCE – Texas A&M University-Commerce has announced the promotion of Sharod Williams to the position of Associate Director of Athletics for Operations and Competitive Excellence.
 
In this position, Williams has oversight of all Lion Athletics facilities and operations, including game operations and capital projects. He is also Lion Athletics' primary liaison with the University Police Department, SSC, Campus Safety, and Operations. Williams is also the sport administrator for track and field and primary liaison with the sports performance staff. He is also the chair for the "Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" pillar committee in the Lion Athletics Strategic Plan.
 
"We are fortunate in Lion Athletics to have assembled a talented pool of administrators, and Sharod Williams epitomizes our Best in Class mission among that group," A&M-Commerce director of athletics Tim McMurray said.   "His natural skillset with our game environment and operations will blend well with his attention-to-detail and creative mindset for presenting our facilities in a Best in Class fashion.  Further, I am equally thrilled he has agreed to – and already begun to impact – our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for Lion Athletics."
 
Williams moves to this position after serving as Director of External Relations since September 2019. In that position, he was responsible for game presentation, which included the implementation and execution of all Lion Athletics marketing plans, in-game promotions and corporate partner element activations.
 
"I am thrilled to be taking on this new role and building upon the great foundation that has already been laid. I'm thankful and appreciative to Tim McMurray for having the confidence in me to execute at this level and continue to grow the Lion Athletics brand," Williams said. "The Best in Class mission drew me to Commerce and over the last year and a half, I have been fortunate to live it each day. Whether it be facilities or diversity, equity and inclusion work, I know that we will continue to be the leaders and innovators in NCAA Division II and beyond."
 
Prior to joining Lion Athletics in 2019, was the Assistant Commissioner for External Operations at the Conference Carolinas office. He started at the Conference Carolinas office as the Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications at Conference Carolinas in 2015. Williams also served as supervisor of the Conference Carolinas Internship Program and regularly collaborated with the conference's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
Williams serves as a leadership development facilitator for various groups in collegiate athletics. He served as a facilitator at the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in both fall 2016 and fall 2017, while also facilitating programming for the Southern Conference, Clemson University, USA South, and many others. In 2019 he became a member of the huddle at Huddle Up.
 
Williams is currently the chair of the Division II Ethnic Minorities and Women's Internship Grant Committee and has served on the NCAA Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant Selection Committee from 2016-19, serving as the chair from 2017-19. He also was a member of the NCAA's Committee on Women's Athletics during the 2018-19 academic year. Other committee service includes the NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse South Regional Advisory Committee and CoSIDA Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
 
Williams is a member of the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA) and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Williams has participated in numerous professional development opportunities including the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, Division II Athletics Directors Association Mentoring Program, and NCAA Effective Facilitation Workshop.
 
Williams worked extensively in the Department of Athletics at Coker College where he served as the Assistant Director of Sports Information and Compliance and the SAAC advisor, as well as holding numerous positions since his sophomore year.
 
A native of Miami, Fla., Williams holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Sport Communication and a Master of Science in Collegiate Athletic Administration from Coker College. A member of the men's basketball team during his time at Coker, Williams was a three-year captain, four-year letter winner, and was named to the All-Time Coker men's basketball team in December 2016.