How Gamecock alum Bryson Allen-Williams is carving a path into college coaching
Former South Carolina linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams never thought he’d get into coaching, but he’s quickly found his way into the graduate assistant ranks of college football.
Allen-Williams started his second college job in February with Mack Brown at North Carolina as a graduate assistant with the Tar Heels’ outside linebackers.
“I never thought about coaching,” Allen-Williams told The State. “I’ve always been a leader, always been somebody who can motivate guys and inspire guys as a player — but then being able to transition into the coaching role and doing the same things, but just doing it in a different way. So I thought that was pretty special.”
His coaching journey started in 2020 shortly after being cut by the Oakland Raiders. While training for the XFL, Allen-Williams took a trip to Georgia State to visit his former coach Shawn Elliott.
The visit ultimately landed Allen-Williams in the coaching business.
“He told me, ‘Man, you don’t want to go train for the XFL. Come coach for me,’ ” Allen-Williams said. “I ended up going to work for Enterprise (Rent-A-Car) for a couple of months and then it was around March of 2020, coach Elliott actually called me back and told me, ‘Hey, man, I got a position open for you.’ ”
Shortly after, Allen-Williams put in his two weeks notice with Enterprise and accepted a graduate assistant role with Georgia State.
During the next two years in Atlanta, Allen-Williams helped lead a group that tallied 73 sacks highlighted by Jordan Strachan, who led the nation in 2020 with 10.5 sacks.
Allen-Williams said it was “humbling” to have a player lead the country in sacks during his first year as a coach, but added that he doesn’t deserve all the credit.
“Travian Robertson, another Gamecock, me and him, we really put our hands on Jordan,” Allen-Williams said. “Jordan, he went out there and did everything he needed to do. He’s a super hard worker, super diligent in the film room. So those are things that it’s like, wow, I was able to help him on that journey to get to where he wanted to go.”
Strachan transferred to South Carolina last season and made an immediate impact, finishing second on the team in sacks and tackles for loss in 2021.
“Just seeing him progress and seeing the things he’s able to do on the field for the Gamecocks, it’s super crazy to even think about how I coached this guy ... it’s definitely huge to just to even think about having a guy that’s playing at my alma mater,” Allen-Williams said.
Allen-Williams was a four-star prospect out of Cedar Grove High in Georgia and the Gamecocks’ top-rated recruit when he signed to play for Steve Spurrier in USC’s 2014 class. He made 22 starts across five seasons and 49 games for the Gamecocks, dealing with injuries in his final college years of 2017 and 2018. He finished with 27.5 career tackles for loss and was lauded for his leadership on and off the field.
Though his coaching career is young, Allen-Williams has already applied lessons he learned as a player under Spurrier, Elliott and Will Muschamp.
“I’m gonna be the coach that I would have wanted when I was playing, or the coach that I had when I was playing,” Allen-Williams said. “It makes for a great experience and it makes a great connection with the guys because I’m able to give them the technique side of things, but I’m also able to relate to them like a big brother.”
Allen-Williams said he’s already enjoyed working on Gene Chizik’s Tar Heels defense. While he may be adjusting to coaching the Power Five level, Allen-Williams said his ultimate goal as a coach remains the same.
“Regardless of Group of Five, Power Five, I think as a coach your job is to be able to get those guys on whatever plateau that they want to get to,” Allen-Williams said. “So if somebody wants to go, you know, be an NFL football player, you got to hold them accountable and make sure that they’re working every day to get to that goal.”
As for his future in coaching, the 25-year-old Allen-Williams said an ultimate goal is to be named to American Football Coaches Association 30 Under 30 list, along with eventually becoming a defensive coordinator and head coach.
Though he’s happy in Chapel Hill and excited about the future of the Tar Heels linebackers, Allen-Williams said he wouldn’t rule out a return to Columbia if the opportunity came about.
“I understand how the coaching business works. Opportunities come, opportunities go,” Allen-Williams said. “If I was ever blessed to come back to South Carolina, of course, I’ll be happy to be with my alma mater. But right now, I’m at North Carolina and I’m loving it here. Chapel Hill is a great place and I’ve met some really great people since I’ve been here.”
North Carolina will kick off its season on Aug. 27 at home against Florida A&M.
This story was originally published June 22, 2022 at 8:00 AM.
