June 24, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion head men's basketball coach Blaine Taylor announced today that former Monarch standout Drew Williamson to the position of Director of Basketball Operations.
"We are pleased with the addition of Drew Williamson," said Taylor. "Drew is one of our own who helped the transition of our program at a critical time as we entered the Constant Center and pushed our status even higher as basketball program. He enjoyed a wonderful playing career and of course, he is proud of his ODU degree. He now crosses the bridge into contributing from a different vantage point and developing his career professionally as a staff member in our program."
Williamson helped the Monarchs to the post-season three times and an overall record of 93-37 during his career from 2003-07. The Monarch point guard led the Monarchs to the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship, as well appearances at the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Tournaments and the 2006 NIT Semifinals. Garnering CAA All-Defensive Team honors twice and a selection to the Second Team All-CAA as a senior, Williamson averaged 7.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in his career.
"I am definitely excited about the opportunity to join the staff," said Williamson. "Old Dominion is my second home and I'm thrilled to return home. I'm anxious to get back to campus and cannot wait to get going."
Williamson's name can be found numerous times in the ODU records books. He holds the school record for consecutive career games played having made 130 appearances in the ODU uniform. He is the third all-time leader in steals with 215 and is seventh all-time at ODU and eighth all-time in the CAA in career assists with 555. Williamson along with former Monarch Frank Smith ('88) are the only Monarchs to have recorded over 200 career steals and 500 career assists.
As a senior, Williamson was a Second Team All-CAA and CAA All-Defensive Team selection as he ranked second in the league in steals and assist/turnover ratio and third in the conference in assists. Williamson guided the Monarchs to a 24-9 record and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
During the 2005-06 season, the then junior Monarch led the CAA in assist/turnover ratio for a second straight season and ranked fourth in the league in assists (4.8) and fifth in steals (1.65). The Monarchs finished at 21-10 overall reaching the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden in New York. Williamson also hit the game-winning basket again George Mason that still stands as one of the most memorable moments in Constant Center history.
In his sophomore campaign, Williamson was named to the All-CAA Tournament Team, helping ODU return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997 as he committed no turnovers during the three games leading to the championship title. Leading the CAA in assist/turnover ratio, he also ranked third in the CAA in assists and steals and earned his first CAA All-Defensive Team accolade.
As a freshman, Williamson started 15 games at the point and ended the year ranked ninth in the CAA in assists and sixth in the CAA in assists/turnover ratio.After receiving his degree in 2007 in sports management, Williamson played nearly three seasons overseas in Germany and also spent time a volunteer coach for the Junior Jen Baskets team.
Williamson replaces Joel Hines who held the Director of Basketball Operations position for three seasons.