University of Denver Athletics

Rob Williams enters his second season as Assistant Coach for the Pioneers in 2022-23.

2021-22 Season

Williams brought a toughness and tenacity to the program in his coaching debut in 2021-22, helping get the Pioneers to 11 wins on the year, the first time since 2017-18 the program has reached double-digit victories.

DU also record seven Summit League wins, matching the total of the three previous seasons combined, highlighted by picking up four road wins in year one with DU, matching the total of the previous four years combined.

Working with Head Coach Jeff Wulbrun, Williams helped revitalize the program and built a new culture that resulted in the team making leaps on the offensive and defensive end. On offense, it became efficient after being stagnant for several seasons, resulting in notable milestones set, including highest scoring output (70.5) since 2017-18, along with having the highest field goal percentage (46.0), made 3s (232), three-point percentage (36.8) and assists (397) in years for the program. Denver also dialed it up in league play, averaging 74.4 points per game, its best scoring output in league play since 2016-17.

Williams was part of a staff that some big success in its first recruiting class, resulting in nine new players for the Pioneers in 2021-22.

Highlighting that class was the freshmen trio of Tevin Smith, Coban Porter and Touko Tainamo , who made a major impact in year one with each have huge moments throughout the season. Smith, DU’s highest rated recruit to sign coming out high school ever, showcased his athletic abilities, getting 33 blocks on the season, the most by a Pioneer since Chris Udofia in 2013-14. Smith also made history, becoming the only player in college basketball this season to score at least 23 points and grab 10 rebounds while not missing a shot (7-7 FG, 8-8 FT) in a 63-53 win at Kansas City.

Smith also became the first Denver freshman to ever win Summit League Player of the Week award back on Jan. 24. He was the first true freshman to win the award in the league since South Dakota State's David Jenkins did back on Jan. 22, 2018.

Porter came in and provided elite-level shooting to the program immediately. The sharpshooting guard was just one of four players in all the NCAA freshmen class to make at least 70 3s on the year while shooting at least 41.3 percent as of Mar. 5. The Columbia, Mo. native led the Summit League in 3-point percentage for the season at 41.3 percent.

Porter’s 71 3s made rank tied for eighth out of all freshmen in the NCAA and set a new freshman record for DU in its DI era (1998-pres.). The freshmen also provided a scoring option off the bench with his 11.4 points per game average being the highest by a DU freshman since Joe Rosga’s 12.7 in 2015-16.

Tainamo brought efficient post play not seen by the Pioneers in a while. The Helsinki, Finland native was the first Denver freshman to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game on Dec. 20 against Western Illinois since Chris Udofia did it back on Jan. 15, 2011.

Tainamo recorded his second double-double of the season against Kansas City on Jan. 27, finishing with 15 points and 15 rebounds, first player since Daniel Amigo (24 points, 16 rebounds) to get at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in a game back on Nov. 25, 2017. His three double-doubles are the most by a Pioneer since Ade Murkey (4) in 2019-20 and most by a DU freshman since Royce O’Neale back in 2011-12.

Williams played a pivotal in landing DU's first JUCO All-American signing in Jordan Johnson. Johnson immediately provided help to the DU backcourt with his shooting and playmaking. The sophomore from Memphis started most of the year and averaged 10.9 points per game.

Previous Coaching History

Williams spent the past three years as the Director of Player Relations at UAB and a fourth season on staff after serving as the team's Graduate Manager for two years prior to that.

Prior to his role on staff, Williams spent five years as a player in the Blazers' program and drew 81 starts in 123 career games played. He finished his career in 2014 with 580 rebounds and ranks 10th all-time at UAB. Williams also served as one of the Blazers' top threats from beyond the arc and knocked down 54 three-pointers over his final two seasons. 

Williams was part of a 2010-11 Blazer team that won the Conference USA regular season title and reached the NCAA Tournament. 

Following his graduation with a degree in communication studies, Williams toured the United States with an Athletes in Action team.

Williams returned to UAB in 2015 to pursue a master's degree in communication management.