Decatur High School graduate Chris Williams will get a chance to coach the cross country program across town at Federal Way High School.
Williams will take over the head coaching job from Jean Licari, who died in January after a battle with a rare form of cancer called LMS, or Leiomyosarcoma. Williams had worked as an assistant under Licari at Federal Way, according to athletic director Miguel Perez.
Williams came to Federal Way after re-starting the cross country program at Green River Community College in 2009. Green River last fielded a competitive running squad in the spring of 1992.
Williams graduated from Washington State University, where he competed on both the Cougar cross country and track teams. He ran for prominent Washington State coach Jason Drake for three seasons. Williams’ Cougar career was highlighted by a career-best 10-kilometer time of 30:41.22 in his final run at Washington State last month. Williams finished in ninth place at the 2008 Pac 10 Conference Championships in the event.
Williams was also named honorable mention on three straight All-Pac-10 Academic Teams.
Prior to GRCC, Williams also coached in the Federal Way Track Club under Head Coach Daryl Genest. He graduated from Decatur in 2003 and earned eight letters — four in cross country, three in track and one in swimming.
He was captain of the Decatur track team as a senior and finished 13th in the 1,600 meters as a seinor at the Class 4A State Track and Field Meet. He also took eighth at Junior Olympics in 1,500 in 2001.
