Williams Named Offensive Line Coach
12/30/2025 8:40:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – Cooper Williams has joined the University at Buffalo football coaching staff as offensive line coach, head coach Pete Lembo announced on Tuesday. Williams comes to Buffalo from Florida State where he worked with new offensive coordinator Tony Tokarz.
Williams served as assistant offensive line coach for the Seminoles for the 2025 season. He helped develop first-team All-ACC selection Luke Petitbon as well as Richie Leonard who was also an All-ACC selection.
Williams spent the 2024 season as a graduate assistant for the offensive line at Missouri after an initial stint at Florida State. He was with the Seminoles from 2020-23, first serving an offensive quality control coach before being promoted to graduate assistant for the offensive line for the 2023 campaign.
Williams began his coaching career at Memphis in 2017 following a successful playing career with the Tigers. He served as a student assistant, working with the running backs, in 2017. He was an offensive analyst, working with the tight ends, for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
"Cooper made a strong impression on me when he was a young coach on the staff at Memphis," Lembo said. "He is smart, thoughtful and has great energy. He connects well with players and people in general. Since that time, he has continued to grow, learn and mature. Cooper made valuable contributions at Florida State and Missouri. So much so that Mike Norvell brought him back a second time at FSU. His longstanding relationship with our new OC Tony Tokarz will allow for a high level of trust and an efficient transition for our players to a new offensive system."
Williams was a two-year letterman on the offensive line at Memphis. After redshirting in 2014, he saw action in 2015 and 2016 and helped the Tigers reach a bowl game each of his three years. Williams also earned recognition for his work in the classroom, including being named to the inaugural American Athletic Conference All-Academic Football Team.
Williams earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Memphis in 2017. He and his wife, Kate, were married in 2023.
Williams served as assistant offensive line coach for the Seminoles for the 2025 season. He helped develop first-team All-ACC selection Luke Petitbon as well as Richie Leonard who was also an All-ACC selection.
Williams spent the 2024 season as a graduate assistant for the offensive line at Missouri after an initial stint at Florida State. He was with the Seminoles from 2020-23, first serving an offensive quality control coach before being promoted to graduate assistant for the offensive line for the 2023 campaign.
Williams began his coaching career at Memphis in 2017 following a successful playing career with the Tigers. He served as a student assistant, working with the running backs, in 2017. He was an offensive analyst, working with the tight ends, for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
"Cooper made a strong impression on me when he was a young coach on the staff at Memphis," Lembo said. "He is smart, thoughtful and has great energy. He connects well with players and people in general. Since that time, he has continued to grow, learn and mature. Cooper made valuable contributions at Florida State and Missouri. So much so that Mike Norvell brought him back a second time at FSU. His longstanding relationship with our new OC Tony Tokarz will allow for a high level of trust and an efficient transition for our players to a new offensive system."
Williams was a two-year letterman on the offensive line at Memphis. After redshirting in 2014, he saw action in 2015 and 2016 and helped the Tigers reach a bowl game each of his three years. Williams also earned recognition for his work in the classroom, including being named to the inaugural American Athletic Conference All-Academic Football Team.
Williams earned his bachelor's degree in business management from Memphis in 2017. He and his wife, Kate, were married in 2023.
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