Ohio State head football coach John Cooper announced on Monday that Brian Williams, the defensive ends and special teams coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh, will join the OSU coaching staff, pending approval from the Board of Trustees.
“We went on a national search to find the best possible person to fill this position,” Cooper said in a released statement. “Brian comes to us highly recommended by (Pittsburgh head coach) Walt Harris, who is someone I carry a lot of respect for. He’ll be a good addition to our staff and we are excited to have him on board.”
Williams coached the linebackers at Fresno State from 1993-95, and at Cincinnati in 1996. He returned to Pittsburgh in 1997 as the defensive ends and special teams coach after coaching there one season previously in 1992. Williams said he is looking forward to coaching at OSU.
“I am extremely excited to be part of a university so rich in tradition,” he said in a released statement. “Ohio State is universally respected as one of the best programs in the country. I am really looking forward to working with coach Cooper, (assistant head coach) Fred Pagac, (defensive coordinator) John Tenuta, and (defensive tackles coach) Jim Heacock, and the rest of the offensive coaches.”
Williams is the second football coach hired since the end of the season. George Belu, the offensive line coach and running game coordinator at Wake Forest, was named the OSU offensive line coach in December. Cooper said he was happy to have Belu as an addition to the coaching staff.
“He brings a wealth of experience to our team and has been successful at every stop during his career,” Cooper said in a released statement. “He’s familiar with the Big Ten from his days at Indiana. He did an incredible job at Wake Forest this year, a team that is playing in its first bowl game in quite a while. George is very well-respected with other coaches across the country and I believe he’ll be a great addition to our staff.”
