Joel Williams is a Chicago native and earned his B.A. in physical education from North Central College (NCC) in Naperville, Illinois. At North Central he competed on the track & field team, helping the Cardinals win three consecutive College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) titles from 1996-98. Williams earned All-CCIW Honors (100, 200, & 4x100) each of those three years.

He was named team co-captain and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships in the indoor 55-meters and outdoor long jump, 100, 200 and 4x100-meter events (1996-1998), twice achieving All-American honors in the 200 and 4x100 Relay. In 1998, Williams capped his collegiate career as a member of the national champion 4x100 Relay as North Central won the NCAA team title.

While at NCC, Williams was also an assistant women’s varsity volleyball coach and head JV coach, guiding the Cardinals to a 106-63 overall mark and two berths in the conference championship match. He is currently assisting with the Williams College women’s volleyball team.

In the spring of 2009 the USTFCCCA named Williams the New England region's assistant women's track coach of the year.

Williams has coached track & field at Division III institutions Elmhurst College (IL), Aurora University (IL), and US Merchant Marine Academy (NY) and at Division I Kent State (OH).

Williams has coached over 200 All-Conference athletes, dozens of NCAA qualifiers, several NCAA All-Americans, and one NCAA champion.