Olympian and Seton Hall University Hall of Famer Angela Williams is in her 15th season as Prairie View A&M’s head women's track and field and cross country coach.
During the 2021 season Williams lead the indoor track team to its first SWAC championship since 1987. The following season she not only coached the Lady Panthers to a back-to-back indoor SWAC championship (2022), the team also won the 2022 outdoor SWAC Championship. The first since 1982.
Williams was named SWAC Coach of the Year in 2021 (Indoor), SWAC Coach of the Year in 2022 (Indoor) and SWAC Coach of the Year (Outdoor) three times in the course of a year.
In 2015, the Lady Panthers finished second in the SWAC Cross Country championship for the second straight season, as Constance Jacob earned second-team all-conference honors. Deonca Bookman’s won in the 60-meter hurdles Nekiesha Bailey took a second place finish in the high jump, which led Prairie View to a fifth-place finish in the SWAC Indoor Championships.
For the second straight year, the Lady Panthers finished third in the SWAC Outdoor Championships, as Bookman won her second consecutive title in the 400-meter, while finishing second in the 100-meter hurdles. Bailey won the high jump, while Jada Curbeam and Camirey Jackson finished 1-2 in the heptathlon. Christine Powers finished second in the pole vault, as did the mile relay team of Husniyyah Rogers, Takara Coleman, Brandalyn Williams and Bookman placed
Bookman qualified for the NCAA Regionals in the 400-meter hurdles for the second straight year.
During the 2014-15 season, Williams led the women’s program to a second-place finish in the SWAC Cross Country Championships, fifth in the SWAC Indoor Championship, and third in the SWAC Outdoor Championship.
In 2015 as a freshman, Bookman posted three wins during the outdoor season, and ranked seventh nationally among all freshman in the 400 hurdles and in the top 50 nationally.
The Lady Panthers placed fourth in the SWAC Outdoor Championship in 2014 and third on the indoor side as Mahogany Cullins claimed the outdoor pole vault title while freshman Camirey Jackson won the long jump.
During the 2013 campaign, the Lady Panthers narrowly missed out on claiming a SWAC title as they finished second for the second straight year in the outdoor championship under Williams. Several student-athletes team had a successful meet as PVAMU claimed six gold medals during the event.
Several weeks later, three Lady Panthers (Terracia Moody, Myesha Dixon, Sylvonna Thompson) advanced to the next level as they all participated at the NCAA Division I Track and Field West Preliminary Round. Prior to the outdoor season, the Lady Panthers captured second place at the SWAC Indoor Track & Field Championships as Dixon, Moody and the mile relay team set SWAC Indoor records.
The 2012 season saw PVAMU post its best finish since 2010 under Williams as they placed second at the SWAC Outdoor Championships. Dixon led the way, winning her third individual event with a first-place run of 14.31 in the 100-meter hurdles. Corinna Brown won the high jump as she jumped a season-best 5-5 to win the event. The Lady Panthers closed out the meet on a strong note as they edged out Alabama State by five-tenths of a second en route to a first-place performance in the mile relay. At indoors, PVAMU’s Aisha White set a SWAC indoor record in the triple jump and Dixon won the 60-meter hurdles as the team placed second at the SWAC Indoor Track and Field Championship.
The Lady Panthers fell short by only two points as they finished fourth at the 2011 SWAC Outdoor Championship. Corinna Brown was crowned the 2011 high jump champion with a first-place mark while Thompson finished fourth At USA Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June. On the indoor side, PVAMU placed second overall as Sharde Bettis was crowned the SWAC’s 60-meter hurdle champion along with Brown in the high jump.
In 2010, Williams moved one step closer to returning Prairie View A&M to the pinnacle as the Lady Panthers finished second in the Southwestern Athletic Conference for the first time in more than a decade with a roster full of freshmen and sophomores. Her 4x400-meter relay team won the SWAC Championship along with coaching gold medal winners in the triple jump and hammer throw. Sprinter Terracia Moody also competed for a World Junior Championship bid as she participated in the 200- and 400-meter dashes.
The 2008-2009 season brought many successes with her first two NCAA regional qualifiers under her tenure. Alexis Tanner and Ashley Magee finished out their senior year by qualifying in the triple jump and high jump, respectively. The Lady Panther cross country team finished sixth overall in the SWAC championships, fifth in the indoor championships and fourth in the outdoor championships which marked the best showing in 17 years.
Williams grew up in Brooklyn, New York and began her track career at the age of 10. As a high school athlete she was recruited by over 200 universities and accepted a scholarship to Tennessee State University in 1983.
As a college freshman, Williams competed in her first Olympic Games for her native country of Trinidad and Tobago. Their 4x100 meter relay team placed sixth. Williams transferred to Seton Hall University in 1986 where she earned Seton Hall's 1st All-American, All-Big East, All-East, All-ECAC and Olympic female athlete titles. As a senior at Seton Hall, Williams competed on her second Olympic Team in the 100- and 200-meter races.
Williams graduated from Seton Hall in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Upon completion of graduation, Williams moved to Tampa, Fla. and continued competing on the world level in track until 1996. Williams toured the with European and American Track and Field circuit, competing against the best of the best in the 100- and 200-meters.
In 1991, Williams accomplished a No. 9 world ranking at the World Indoor Nationals at 200 Meters. In 1992, she competed in the United States Olympic Trials in the 100- and 200-Meters. In 1993, she was a member on the 4x200-meter indoor American record-breaking team. In 1996 at the age of 31, Williams competed in her last Olympic Trials and her last track and field competition.
In 2006, Williams was inducted into the Seton Hall University Athletic Hall of Fame.
After retirement, Williams began her second career as a teacher and coach, at Ollie Middle School in Alief, Texas from 1996-2002 and at Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas from 2002-2007.
