She helped several key Lady Lions to successful seasons including Leilani Kapinus who led the team in rebounds, steals and blocks while surpassing 1,000 career points in the 2023-24 season. Williams guided Kapinus to an Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection as well.
Terri Williams was promoted to associate head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season. She enters her third season on the coaching staff at Penn State.
Williams worked closely with the Penn State defense in the 2023-24 season, guiding one of the highest-pressure defenses in the nation. The Lady Lions forced 18 turnovers per game which was the third highest in the Big Ten. Penn State also ranked third in blocks per game and steals per game at the end of the campaign.
She helped several key Lady Lions to successful seasons in 2023-24 including Leilani Kapinus who led the team in rebounds, steals and blocks while surpassing 1,000 career points. Williams guided Kapinus to an Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection as well.
Working with the Lady Lions’ post players, Williams helped Johnasia Cash finish her career with 1,084 points, 952 rebounds and 25 double-doubles. Among players in the 2022-23 season, Cash ranked in the nation 22nd in career boards and 48th in career double-doubles.Williams has 30 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level, including 17 seasons as a head coach. She has a career record of 283-242 as a head coach.
Prior to Penn State, she served nine years as the head coach at Auburn, leading the Tigers to 140 wins. She led Auburn to three NCAA Tournament appearances along with two WNIT appearances.
In 2018-19, Williams guided Auburn to a 22-10 record and single-season program records for three-pointers made (193) and fewest turnovers (417).
Williams’ Auburn defenses forced more than 20 turnovers per game in her tenure. The Tigers ranked third in the nation in steals per game (13.2) and turnovers forced per game (22.9). In her first season at Auburn, in 2012-13, the Tigers set a school record with 402 steals and forced 701 turnovers.
Prior to Auburn, Williams was the head coach at Georgetown for eight years, leading the Hoyas to 20 or more wins in each of her last four seasons. She posted a 143-104 record at Georgetown, reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2012, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011. The Hoyas also reached the WNIT quarterfinals in 2009.
Williams served 12 years as an assistant coach, making stops at Southwest Missouri State (2002-04), Georgia (1996-2002) and Georgetown (1992-96). She was also an assistant coach for Team USA during the summer of 2011, helping the team to a gold medal.
Williams was a four-year letterwinner as a player at Penn State and graduated in 1991 with a degree in business management.