LOWELL, Mass. – Marcus Williams has joined UMass Lowell as the Head Sports Performance Coach, as announced by Keith Vinci, Assistant Director for Sports Performance. He will work with the women's basketball, women's soccer and men's lacrosse teams.

"We are extremely excited about having Marcus join our department," Vinci said. "He brings with him tremendous experience, and we know he will make an immediate impact on the athletes and our department." 

Williams holds certifications for NSCA (strength and conditioning specialist), USA Weightlifting (Level 1 sports performance coach), Reflexive Performance Reset (Level 1), and American Red Cross (CPR/AED).

"I would like to thank all the members of the search committee, and especially Coach Keith Vinci, for allowing me the opportunity to join the UMass Lowell Sports Performance team," Williams said. "I look forward to continuing to aid in the development of our student athletes and the future success of River Hawk Athletics."

Williams most recently served as the head strength and conditioning coach and athletic community service coordinator at Franklin Pierce University, where he was responsible for overseeing the strength and conditioning for the university's 26 athletic programs and was the 2017 Northeast-10 recipient of the MOAA/NACDA symposium Division II grant. He worked as the primary strength and conditioning coach for basketball, football, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer and golf, while supervising the strength and conditioning staff.
 
He has also worked as a strength and conditioning coach at Central Connecticut State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, the Detroit Tigers and West Michigan Whitecaps, and has served as a speed and agility coach for Michigan Rush Soccer Academy.
 
Before he graduated in 2011, he spent time as a strength and conditioning intern at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as Quinnipiac University.
 
Williams received his bachelor of science in health and physical activities and minor in fitness from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011. He went on to complete his master's in physical education with specialization in exercise science from Central Connecticut State University in 2016.