Tyler Junior College has recruited a lot of coaches to help the football team improve and win a national championship. But Head Coach Danny Palmer made a “pro” move by bringing in former professional football player, Coach Jermaine Williams.
He played pro-football for the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college ball for the University of Houston. This will be his first experience coaching a team at TJC.
“It all started with Coach Palmer. He coached me in college at Houston. I always wanted to get into coaching, but I have a family and I really didn’t have the time. I had opportunities but didn’t have to push myself to get where I’m at today. But it’s been all about Coach Palmer. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here at TJC coaching.”
Williams is looking to do his part for the team not only by coaching, but also making them better in life.
“Yea, I feel that he can help us because he knows what it takes to get better. What he learned from his experience he can teach us to get where we need to be. He teaches us not just football but also teaches us about life itself and that’s what I like most about him,” defensive back Chris Lomax said.
“For me, it’s easy I always tell the guys the truth. I never ask them to do something that I have never done. I already repeated what I done, so for me it comes naturally. I know what it takes; I know my role to coaching these boys, and it just like starting from the basics and its good all around.”
The pressure of being an ex-pro-football player doesn’t seem to brother the rookie coach at all. All Williams wants to do is his job and get this program where it needs to be.
“At first I thought I would have to do more to prove myself. But when I first got in the locker room, I felt like I’m one of the guys.
“So I don’t have to be something I’m not, I don’t have to prove a point cause all I want to do is win. I want to win in games, practice, and relationship with the players, with my studies and preparation so I can give them the right information to be successful. The most pressure that I feel on myself is not letting them down,” Williams said.
Other players from the TJC football team feels that Coach Williams is a perfect fit for this football team and that he can bring more to the team besides teaching the game of football.
“Coach Williams is a great motivator and he really cares about us. He is a great mentor and I feel that we can come to him about other problems we have outside the football field,” wide receiver Roderick Shepherd said.
Coach Williams loves coaching for TJC, and the players and coaching staff are glad to have him apart of the team.
“Being with all the other guys coaches and players, it’s like a brotherhood.
“Me being a ex-pro player, I feel I’m really apart of a brotherhood and that’s what matters to me the most and I’m excited to be here.”
