{{Short description|American college football coach}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{infobox college coach | name = LeDominique Williams | image = | alt = | caption = | current_title = Defensive ends coach | current_team = Indiana | current_conference = Big Ten | current_record = | contract = | birth_date = | birth_place = Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | alma_mater = | player_years1 = 2006–2008 | player_team1 = Charleston | player_positions = Defensive back | coach_years1 = 2010 | coach_team1 = Charleston (LB) | coach_years2 = 2011 | coach_team2 = Ashland (GA, defense) | coach_years3 = 2012–2013 | coach_team3 = Ohio (GA, defense) | coach_years4 = 2014–2015 | coach_team4 = Illinois (GA, defense) | coach_years5 = 2016 | coach_team5 = UT Martin (DL) | coach_years6 = 2017–2021 | coach_team6 = North Dakota State (DE) | coach_years7 = 2022–2023 | coach_team7 = Colorado State (DL) | coach_years8 = 2024–present | coach_team8 = Indiana (DE) | overall_record = | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = | awards = | coaching_records = }}
'''LeDominique''' "'''Buddha'''"' '''Williams''' is an American college football coach and former defensive back who is the current defensive ends coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. He played college football for the Charleston Golden Eagles.
==College career== Williams played as a defensive back for three years for the Charleston Golden Eagles. He produced 130 tackles with 11 for loss and 2 sacks.<ref name="IndianaProfile">{{cite web|url=https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/buddha-williams/4162|title=Buudha Williams|publisher=IU Hoosiers}}</ref> He previously held the school record for single-game tackles with 17 against West Virginia State in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ucgoldeneagles.com/news/2011/11/12/FB_1112113946.aspx|title=Record breaking day as football slams WV State 42-20|date=November 12, 2011|accessdate=October 6, 2025|publisher=UC Golden Eagles}}</ref>
==Coaching career== ===Early coaching=== Williams began his coaching career in 2010 at Charleston as a linebackers coach. He then served as a graduate assistant at Ashland for one season in 2011. Starting in 2012, while working on his master's degree, he worked as a graduate assistant in defense at Ohio until 2013. He spent two seasons at Illinois as a graduate assistant in defense from 2014 to 2015. In 2016 he joined UT Martin as a defensive ends coach.<ref name="IndianaProfile"/>
===North Dakota State (2017–2021)=== Williams then worked as a defensive line coach at NDSU for five years from 2017 to 2021, where he was part of four NCAA Division I FCS titles and four MVFC championships.<ref name="GoBison" /> In his first season, Williams oversaw the position group after all-American defensive end Greg Menard suffered an ACL injury in fall camp.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bisonillustrated.com/frisco-memories-nick-goeser-and-buddha-williams/|title=Frisco Memories: Nick Goeser and Buddha Williams|author=Sam Herder|date=March 2, 2018|accessdate=October 6, 2025|publisher=Bison Illustrated}}</ref> He was credited with developing three FCS All-Americans, including 2019 MVFC DPOY Derrek Tuszka.<ref name="GoBison" />
===Colorado State (2022–2023)=== Following five seasons at NDSU, Williams left in 2022 to join Colorado State as a defensive line coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.valleynewslive.com/2021/12/30/espn-reports-ndsu-defensive-ends-coach-leaving-fbs-job/|title=NDSU defensive ends coach leaving for FBS job|publisher=Valley News Live|author=Beth Hoole|date=December 30, 2021|accessdate=October 6, 2025}}</ref> Williams oversaw the recruitment of 2022 World Games sumo gold medal winner and defensive lineman Hidetora Hanada, after being contacted by Ottawa Redblacks defensive line coach and former Illinois defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Mike Phair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/csu/football/2023/08/10/japanese-sumo-wrestler-hidetora-hanada-learning-csu-football/70562776007/|title=Sumo wrestling star Hidetora Hanada all in chasing football dream at Colorado State|author=Kevin Lytle|publisher=Coloradoan|date=August 10, 2023|accessdate=October 6, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://csurams.com/news/2023/8/8/ramwire-an-arrival-filled-with-curiosity-and-fascination|title=An Arrival Filled with Curiosity and Fascination|author=Mike Brohard|publisher=CSU Rams|date=August 8, 2023|accessdate=October 6, 2025}}</ref> Williams also coached second-team All-Mountain West player and future 5th-round draft pick linebacker Mohamed Kamara.<ref name="CSUWilliams" /> Williams saw interest from other schools prior to the 2023 season, but chose to stay for the rest of the season following efforts by coach Jay Norvell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://csurams.com/news/2023/8/16/football-keeping-staff-intact-has-helped-aid-progress|title=Keeping Staff Intact Has Helped Aid Progress|author=Mike Brohard|publisher=CSU Rams|date=August 16, 2023|accessdate=October 6, 2025}}</ref>
===Indiana (2024–present)=== Williams was announced as defensive ends coach by Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti on December 13, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2023/12/13/football-cignetti-announces-complete-coaching-staff|title=Cignetti announces complete coaching staff|publisher=IU Hoosiers|date=December 13, 2023|accessdate=October 6, 2025}}</ref> He started his first season at IU in the 2024 season, seeing a run to the College Football Playoff as well as overseeing the highest ranked rushing defense in the country. Defensive end Mikail Kamara earned first-team All-Big Ten and second-team All-American honors under Williams' coaching.<ref name="IndianaProfile" />
==Personal life== Williams graduated from Charleston with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2009. He later earned a master's degree in recreation and sports science while working as a graduate assistant at Ohio University in 2013.<ref name="IndianaProfile" />
Williams has a wife, Veronica, two daughters, Alexis and Gianna, and a son, Dominic.<ref name="IndianaProfile" /><ref name="GoBison">{{cite web|url=https://gobison.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/buddha-williams/1134|title=Buddha Williams|publisher=GoBison|accessdate=October 6, 2025}}</ref><ref name="CSUWilliams">{{cite web|url=https://csurams.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/buddha-williams/3247|title=Buddha Williams|publisher=CSU Rams|accessdate=October 6, 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/buddha-williams/4162 Indiana profile]
{{2017 North Dakota State Bison football navbox}} {{2018 North Dakota State Bison football navbox}} {{2019 North Dakota State Bison football navbox}} {{2021 North Dakota State Bison football navbox}} {{2025 Indiana Hoosiers football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Buddha}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:American football defensive backs Category:Ashland Eagles football coaches Category:Charleston Golden Eagles football coaches Category:Charleston Golden Eagles football players Category:Colorado State Rams football coaches Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football coaches Category:Indiana Hoosiers football coaches Category:North Dakota State Bison football coaches Category:UT Martin Skyhawks football coaches Category:Players of American football from Cincinnati