Tom Williams resigns

Tom Williams resigned as Yale's football coach on Wednesday.

Williams, who was hired back in 2008 off the staff of the Jacksonville Jaguars to replace Jack Siedlecki, had his claims of being a Rhodes Scholarship candidate investigated by Yale. Although the investigation results were never made public, Williams decided to step down and the resignation is effective on Dec. 31.

“I wish to clear the record,” Williams said in a statement. “On the Rhodes Scholarship issue, I was encouraged to apply by the Stanford Fellowship office, which identified me ‘as the kind of student who demonstrates the intellect, energy and commitment that the Rhodes selection committees seek in their applicants.’ I considered the opportunity, sought advice and was encouraged to apply by faculty members and my coach Bill Walsh, but I did not apply.”

“During the spring of my senior year, I was given an opportunity to attend a tryout camp with the San Francisco 49ers, and I participated in that three-day event. I did not sign a free agent contract with the 49ers or participate in their summer training camp for signed players.”

“I am extremely proud of my academic, athletic and coaching career. If there was confusion created, I take full responsibility. The timing of this inquiry has been difficult for everyone. At this point I believe it is in the best interest of my student-athletes and Yale University that I step down.”

Williams was quoted on multiple occasions, including by the Register, about his experience as a Rhodes Scholarship candidate when he was a senior at Stanford while Yale senior quarterback Patrick Witt went through the process. Witt eventually became a Rhodes finalist but chose not to attend the final interview because it conflicted with the season-ending game agaiinst Harvard. The New York Times had the Rhodes Trust check their records and they had no application from a person with the name Thomas Williams during the period when he was eligible to apply. Speaking two days before the Harvard game, Williams said it was just a misrepresentation and he was in contact with the people at Stanford to back up his claims.

“I was talking about making a choice of pursuing a Rhodes and pursuing an opportunity to keep playing football. That was all that was. We just have to make sure we clarify it," Williams told the Register on Nov. 17. "These guys (Yale spokesmen) are here to make sure it gets represented correctly, that is all it was. There is no intention to deceive. I never said I was a finalist for the Rhodes candidacy. The Rhodes shouldn't have any record of me because I didn't do it. I didn't go through the process; I pulled out long before it got to that point.”


While Yale never released the findings of the internal investigation, a source who was closely involved with the decision to hire Williams said his Rhodes Scholarship background played a role in him becoming such a intriguing candidate.

Yale's director of athletics Tom Beckett said the university would immediately begin a search for Williams’ successor.

Williams went 16-14 in his three seasons at Yale including a 7-3 mark in 2010. However, despite returning the majority of the 2010 squad the Bulldogs were just 5-5 and lost to Harvard 45-7.

Williams and his staff continued to go among their business as usual after the season ended, hosting recruits and making preparations for next season.

I have reached out to Williams for comment and obviously I will be providing updates on the resignation and the search for Williams' successor.