Don Williams earned a bachelor degree in physical education and teaching credential from Chico State University, where he was a four year starter and team captain on the wrestling team. He became a 2-time All Conference Champion and a 2-time NCAA All American in his last two years.
After placing at the National wrestling tournament his junior year, he was asked to compete with the swimming and diving team at their Nationals.Three weeks later he earned All American honors as a springboard diver. He went on to become a double-conference champion and a 2-time All American-- the first in school history to earn All American honors in two sports the same season. For this he was inducted into the Chico State Athletic Hall of Fame.
As a coach at Anderson High School for twenty-eight years, Williams' wrestlers brought home more State medals than any school in the North Section history, including two State Champions, five finalists, and two 3-time medalists.
His high school coaching days ended when he was asked to start a wrestling program at Simpson University in the fall of 2012. In his first two years Simpson had six NAIA All Americans and placed 11th and 13th in the Nation. For personal reasons he stepped down as head coach in 2016 and turned the reins over to his coaching partner Rod Forseth. Five years later he returned to SU to join with Coach Forseth once again.  Â
In 2002 the California Wrestling Coaches Association selected Coach Williams as the California State Wrestling Coach of the Year, and in 2016 he was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame.Â
