Larry Williams Position: Director of Athletics Institution: University of Portland

Larry Williams has been at the helm of the University of Portland's Athletic Department during an exciting era of growth and achievement.

Williams stresses the expansion of a culture of fierce competition wherein coaches and student-athletes strive to perform at their highest potential. Now in his fifth year on The Bluff, he has spearheaded numerous projects that have enhanced Portland's athletic and academic performance, brand awareness, sports facilities and resources, and aptitude to serve as host for regional and national athletic championships.

Under Williams' guidance, the Portland Pilots claimed a second NCAA Division 1Championship in women's soccer in 2005. The men's cross country program advanced to three NCAA Championships, men's tennis earned its first-ever national ranking, and the Pilots finished tied for 100th in the 2005-06 U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup Standings. Each of the University's athletic programs have consistently performed above the NCAA prescribed Academic Progress Report baseline with three programs recognized in 2008 for performing among the top 10% in the country.

Externally, Williams has aggressively pursued numerous television contracts that have substantially increased the presence of Portland Pilots soccer and basketball on the air in local, regional, and national television markets. Attendance at Portland athletic events has also seen remarkable growth, including three new successive NCAA records for average soccer attendance. Williams also led the effort for the newly unveiled University of Portland athletics logo and word marks, providing the University with a guided plan for brand enhancement entering the 2007-08 sports season.

Williams has overseen the continuing process of renovating Portland's athletic facilities, including the Clive Charles Soccer Complex. In 2006, a build-out of the Chiles Center allowed more space for the renovation of all women's locker rooms. Then in 2007 new natural grass and FieldTurf practice fields were installed, and stadium concourse upgrades were completed.

Williams also provides leadership at the national and conference level as he currently serves on the new NCAA Championships and Sports Sponsorship Cabinet and the NCAA Men's Basketball Issues Committee, and chairs the West Coast Conference Athletic Directors Council.

Williams was hired as the Director of Athletics and Recreation at the University of Portland in June of 2004 after directing the licensing and product marketing efforts from 1999-2003 at his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame. Under Williams' guidance Notre Dame's licensing revenue enjoyed significant improvement.

Prior to returning to his alma mater, Williams practiced law for six years for the Indianapolis based law firm of Baker & Daniels. As a consummate believer in the student-athlete model, Williams completed law school during his years as a professional athlete, graduating in 1992 from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Williams is a native of Santa Ana, California. He was a two-time All-America offensive lineman for the Fighting Irish before heading to the professional playing ranks in National Football League from 1985-1993. In the NFL, he played in several memorable playoff and conference championship games, participated in a variety of community outreach programs and negotiated player employment contracts with NFL clubs.

Williams is married to Laura Lee. They have five children Kristin (21, a senior member of the crew team at Santa Clara), Sean (19, a sophomore member of the football team at Yale), Scott (17), Eric (14) and Louis (10).