The achievements of Dave Williams, the former golf coach at the University of Houston, should be recorded in book form. First and foremost, he has coached more NCAA championship teams than any coach in any sport – 16. This covers a period from 1956 to 1985, and includes five consecutive national collegiate titles from 1950 to 1960.

Dave was a Cougar coach since 1952. It took him five years to go all the way but once he did, he built a dynasty, the likes of which may never be equaled. His teams won 16 national championships in 36 years, and he had eight individual champions during the span.

Ironically, the Cougars had no home course, which rules out a home-course advantage. They won but one of their championships in Houston – the 1984 NCAA – at Bear Creek, which at least allowed the Cougars to practice privileges. Dave turned out more tour players than any coach in America at the time, including Fred Couples. Bruce Lietzke, Bill Rogers, Keith Fergus, John Mahaffey and Fuzzy Zoeller.

He is also a member of the NCAA Golf Coaches Hall of Fame. Dave wrote his own book, “How to Coach and Play Championship Golf,” although it was ghosted by former sportswriter Art Casper Williams.

Due to his unparalleled success, the Golf Coaches Association of America named their coach of the year award after Dave Williams. But the GCAA went even further: the Dave Williams Award is given to coaches in each of the 6 levels of collegiate golf (Division I, II, III, NAIA, NJCAA, and NJCAA Division II). No other sport has ever named an award at every level after one person.

Birthplace: Randolph, Texas

Born: October 14, 1918

Died: December 16, 1999