New Del Valle Head Coach/Athletic Coordinator Colin Williams finds himself in a glass half-full/half-empty situation. On the half-empty side, Williams knows there’s not much margin for error when his team has to compete for a playoff spot with the likes of perennial powers Westlake, Lake Travis and Dripping Springs. As for half-full: Williams believes he can replicate the success he had as Austin LBJ’s Offensive Coordinator, where his high-powered offense helped the 2024 Jags finish as the #2-ranked 4A Division 1 squad in the final AP poll of the season.
“My expectations are to compete at a high level, lay the foundation (and) culture and give our community something to be proud of going forward,” states Williams, a 37-year-old native of Corpus Christi.
Following a high school career at Mary Carroll High School in Corpus, Williams played college ball at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. He’s coached collegiately at Grambling State University and North Carolina A&T State University, as well as coaching in the high school ranks at Alice, Robert G. Cole, Robstown and, most recently, LBJ.
Despite a considerable upgrade in facilities and unwavering community support, Williams inherits a program that hasn’t had a winning season since the late Courtney Wash led Del Valle to a 9-2 mark back in the flip-phone era of 2009. Last year’s squad under Todd Patmon posted an overall mark of 3-7 and finished 1-5 in District 26-6A.
As the aforementioned powerhouses look to remain dominant, the other teams in the district – especially Austin High and Bowie but don’t overlook Akins – have been battling Del Valle for the “other” playoff spot for years. Again, with a glass half-full mentality, Williams believes he can field a team that can entertain its long-suffering fanbase.
“I was attracted to Del Valle largely from the community, tradition and the pride that the community has in itself. It is inspiring and contagious,” Williams declares. “Our players know the goal that we have set for ourselves and understand that in order to reach that, we have to fight for and earn what we want.
“We won't be given any handouts.”
In other words, the glass is however as full or empty as Coach Colin Williams and his Del Valle Cardinals make it.