Alfred Williams voted GCAC Coach of the Year for 2019-20

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana’s Alfred Williams was announced Friday afternoon as Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in men’s basketball.

GCAC head coaches voted on the award.

Williams, in his 10th season at XULA and his fourth as head coach, led the Gold Rush to the GCAC regular-season championship and a No. 15 ranking in the NAIA Division I coaches poll. The Gold Rush are 25-7 entering a 7 p.m. Saturday home game game against Dillard in the semifinals of the GCAC Tournament.

“It’s a great honor,” said junior guard Rayshawn Mart, XULA’s leading scorer this season. “Coach deserved this. He works hard for the guys. He truly has a passion for the game, and he makes everyone around him better.

“I have improved every year since I’ve been here. Coach teaches us life lessons on the court and outside of basketball. I’ve learned so much from him — how to be humble, how to handle adversity. Coach is a great guy, and I’m very happy for him.”

Williams is a graduate of XULA — he was a standout player for the Gold Rush in 2004-05 and from 2006-08 — and Southside High School in Greenville, S.C.

The GCAC award is the first for Williams and the ninth for the program. XULA coaches Denny Alexander (1981-82, 1985-86, 1986-87) and Dannton Jackson (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14) won three times apiece, and Dale Valdery (1990-91, 2001-01) was honored twice.