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Building trust top priority for new Nebraska women’s coach

Dressed in her new school colors of red and white, Former USD Women’s Basketball Coach, Amy Williams, was formally introduced to the University of Nebraska on Tuesday. Williams replaces Connie Yori who stepped down last year as head coach after 14 years.

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Williams, a Spearfish, South Dakota native, played at Nebraska from 1994-1998 and graduated in 1998 with a degree in biology and mathematics.

After graduating from Nebraska, Williams served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney and then had assistant coaching positions at Texas-San Antonio (2000-2001), Oklahoma State (2001-2005) and Tulsa (2005-2007).

During her four years at the helm of the Coyote program, Williams led the Coyotes to the 2016 Women’s National Invitation Tournament Championship, the program’s first NCAA Tournament in 2014 and four-straight Summit League Tournament championship games.

The 41-year-old Williams, the head coach at South Dakota the past four years, will take over a program embroiled in turmoil at the end of the season amid allegations from players and support staff that Yori had mistreated players. Her salary, which was at $180,000 a year at United States dollars, will go up to $575,000 with the Cornhuskers and is for five years.

“Our philosophy of practice is just going to be as efficient and hard-working as we can”, Williams said. If she leaves, the Huskers would return two players – Big Ten freshman of the year Jessica Shepard and Allie Havers – who have significant starting experience. “I’ve watched this program with pride and very vested interest my entire coaching career”. “She’s building relationships. So we’re plowing forward”.

“I’m not looking at it as any kind of tough sell”, Williams said. “I feel really excited about the players in the program who are going to be joining that journey with us”.

Yori last summer had her contract extended through June 2020.

Williams’ husband, Lloyd, is also a coach and the couple have two daughters – Kennadi (10) and Bentli (6).

Eichorst said he homed in on Williams quickly in his search. She said she was meeting Tuesday night with Williams.

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“We’re going to compete for championships, we’re going to do it the right way and most of all, we’re going to do it together, and I can’t wait to start that process”, Williams said. It’s a great day, just like every day, to be a Husker.

Amy Williams was officially introduced Tuesday morning as the new Husker women’s head basketball coach.'I am humbled and honored to be returning to Nebraska