The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2023 inductees in January and among the honorees is the late Bert Williams, former GMC athletic director and head coach of the Junior College football team.
Williams retired in 2020 after a 23-year career at GMC. He began his career there in 1997 as an offensive coordinator and assistant head football coach for the Bulldogs. After becoming GMC’s head football coach and athletic director in 2000, he accumulated a record of 156-58.
“All of us at Georgia Military College could not be more proud of this well-deserved recognition for Bert and are so excited for his wife, Cathy and their two sons, Parker and Zach,” Lieutenant General (Ret.) William B. Caldwell IV, president of Georgia Military College, said.
At the time of his retirement, Williams had one of the country’s highest win percentages in NJCAA football. He led the Bulldogs to 10 NJCAA bowl games, a national championship in 2001, national championship game appearances in 2002 and 2013, and was named National Coach of the Year in 2001 (NJCFCA), 2002 (AFM/ Schutt) and 2013 when he was named National Coach of the Year by both the AFCA and the NJCAA.
Williams was inducted into the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame in 2010, the first active NJCAA coach to be so honored. He also served as the NJCAA Football Coaches Association president and the ACCFCA president.
The GMC Junior College football program has continued to excel under the direction of the present athletic director and head football coach Rob Manchester, who worked with Williams for 17 years.
The induction ceremony for Williams will be on Feb. 25, at the Macon City Auditorium.
“It brings me great joy to know Coach Williams’ legacy will not only live on at Georgia Military College, but beyond in the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame,” Caldwell said.
Donations to the Bert and Cathy Williams Scholarship Fund can be made by check to the GMC Alumni Foundation, or online at www.alumni.gmc.edu.