Joel Williams is a Chicago native and earned his B.A. in physical education from North Central College (NCC) in Naperville, Illinois.

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.

At North Central Williams competed on the track & field team, helping the Cardinals win three consecutive College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) titles from 1996-98.

Williams was a standout performer for the North central track & field team, earning all-conference and All-American honors and winning the 1998 NCAA title.

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

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