Ben Williams

Ben Williams was named the head coach of Houston Soccer on February 12, 2025.

In his first season leading the Cougars, Williams the program to its first winning season since 2021 with a 7-4-7 record. Williams led Houston to its first undefeated non-conference finish in program history including a 4-1 route of rv Texas, marking the first victory against the Longhorns since 2000.

Under Williams direction, the Cougars allowed just one goal during non-conference action and 14 on the season marking the lowest total ever allowed in non-conference action and the lowest season total since 2010.

The Cougars opened Big 12 Conference play with a 3-1 victory over Cincinnati, marking the most goals scored in a single Big 12 match in program history as well as the first time opening conference play victorious.

Williams led Houston to a 2-4-5 Big 12 record — Houston's best since joining the league — while tallying its most conference points in league play (11).

The Cougars earned three Big 12 weekly awards as Lexi Gonzalez earned the program's first award as Goalkeeper of the week. Samira Minor earned the Big 12's Offensive Player and Freshman of the week after she recorded a brace against Cincinnati, marking the first time since 2021 a Big 12 soccer player had won multiple awards in the same week since 2021.

Minor was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman teams which was the first time a Houston Soccer player earned a spot on the Big 12 First or Second Team in program history. Minor was the second Cougars to earn a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team (Aryanna Jimison, 2023).

Williams comes to Houston after one season at SFA where he led the Ladyjacks to the Southland Conference Regular Season and Tournament championship, and the largest single season turnaround in Division I with 14 wins. As Southland Coach of the Year, the conferences’ Midfielder, Defender, Freshman and Student-Athlete of the Year as well as the Tournament MVP. Eight players earned All-Conference honors in his lone season in the Piney Woods.

SFA’s regular season conference championship was its first since 2020 and its conference tournament title was the Ladyjacks first since 2012. The program’s 14 victories en route to the NCAA Tournament marked the most since 2014. SFA ranked fourth in the NCAA with 3.0 goals per game while ranking seventh nationally with 13 shutouts. Academically, the Ladyjacks posted a 3.63 fall GPA and 3.48 spring GPA.

Prior to his time in Nacogdoches, Texas, Williams spent the 2023 season as the Associate Head Coach at UTSA where the Roadrunners set the program record for the fewest goals conceded (13).

Williams spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at Miami (OH) where he helped lead the Redhawks to the most goals scored since 2016. He was promoted to Associate head coach for the 2022-23 season when they reached the Mid-American Conference Tournament Semi Final, capping the best season since 2015. Four players earned All-MAC Conference honors that season.

Before joining the RedHawks, Williams was the Girls' ECNL Director and Coach at Albion Hurricanes FC since July 2017, while also working as the AHFC Royals WPSL as a head coach.

During his time with Albion Hurricanes FC, the club earned its highest ranking of 30th with 90 athletes recruited to play in the college ranks during his tenure. He also mentored multiple youth and full national team players, including players for the United States, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Scotland, South Africa, and Mexico.

Prior to the Hurricanes, Williams’ first coaching stop in the college ranks as a volunteer assistant coach at Oklahoma State University from 2015-2017. While in Stillwater, he helped the Cowgirls to two Big 12 Tournament Appearances and a 2016 NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Liverpool, England, native graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. In four seasons with the Eagles, Williams won three regular season conference championships, two conference tournament championships and participated in four national tournaments, making it to the Elite 8 in 2013.

Williams also played two seasons in the Premier Development League for Vermont Voltage. He holds a USSF A License, NSCAA Premier License, NSCAA Level 3 Goalkeeping Diploma.