Former Marquette University athletic director Larry Williams, who was in charge during a critical time for the school, has died at 62.
Williams had been the AD at the University of San Francisco since 2022. According to a media report, Williams suffered a heart-related incident on Oct. 16 while working out on campus. He was also previously in charge of athletics at Portland and Akron.
MU hired Williams in December 2011. He replaced Steve Cottingham, who in his resignation letter cited disappointment in two alleged cases of sexual assault involving student-athletes. The athletes were not charged with any crimes, but the district attorney and Milwaukee Police Department were critical of MU for not following proper procedures in an investigation.
Williams was also hired during a time of upheaval in conferences in college sports. Several schools with football programs bolted the Big East. Williams and other ADs helped reform the Big East into a basketball-centric league.
Williams was at MU until Dec. 2013, when the school announced he was leaving to pursue other interests. He was known to have an up-and-down relationship with former Golden Eagles men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams.
Larry Williams was a California native who played offensive line for the Notre Dame football team. He played in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Marquette University athletic director Larry Williams dies at 62
Reporting by Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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