Conference Highlights
Hardin-Simmons University Tennis
Home of Champions
HSU Cowboy Tennis
NAIA National Champions
1953
Conference Champions
1926, 1927, 1935, 1954, 1956, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
ASC West Division Champions
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011
HSU Cowgirl Tennis
Conference Champions
1983, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
ASC West Division Champions
1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Team Creed
“The Strength of the Wolf is the Pack, and the Strength of the Pack is the Wolf.â€
Coaching Achievements
Williford returns for his eighth season as the Men’s and Women’s tennis coach at Hardin-Simmons.
He has coached nine ASC Freshmen of the Year, 11 ASC MVP’s, three ASC newcomers of the year, an ITA All American,(Lisa Mertz winner of the 2010 ITA West Region Tournament), and three NCAA All Americans. HSU Men’s doubles team earned All-American honors in 2005 after they advanced to the NCAA Doubles Championships semifinals.
In 2007, a first in Hardin-Simmons school history, the Cowgirls and the Cowboys made the NCAA Tournament. He has led both teams to the ASC title in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and ASC West Champions for the Men in 2008, 2009, and 2011 as well as for the Women in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
In 2005-11 he was been named ASC Coach of the Year for men, women or both.
His women’s teams are 96-5 against ASC opponents in his career and his men are 88-6.
A 1993 graduate of Howard Payne, Williford had a distinguished tennis career with the Yellow Jackets. He was named first team All-Texas Intercol-legiate Athletic Assn. in 1989, ‘90, and ‘92.
In 1991, Williford was a qualifier for the NAIA National Tournament. He helped lead his team to the 1991 & ‘92 TIAA Championship.
Prior to beginning his college coaching career, he served as Club Pro in West Texas for 9 years and was the 1998 and ‘99 Permian Basin Pro of the Year. He is USPTA Professional 1, he’s a former USTA Jr. Rec. Committee member, a USTA National Coach, and a USA Ten-nis National Developmental Coach.
In 2000 he was a People to People Sports Ambassador AD for the USA Jr. Teams to Holland and in 2001 to New Zealand/Australia.
He and wife Angela were married in the summer and together they have four children, Jim (16), Tori (13) J.C. (11) and Davyn (10).