Dale Williams is in his sixth season as offensive line coach. He was hired Jan. 2, 2017.
Williams’ offensive line helped the Purdue offense break several records in 2021. The line’s protection helped Boilermaker quarterbacks set program season-bests for passing yards (4,620), completions (407), completion percentage (.708) and passing first downs (221). The passing game averaged 355.4 yards per game, another school record, ranking second in the conference and fifth nationally. For their performance, the trio of Gus Hartwig, Greg Long and Tyler Witt were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
In 2020, Williams' group helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 390.5 yards of total offense and Big Ten-best 309.0 yards passing per game. Hartwig, Long, Grant Hermanns and Spencer Holstege all earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades. Hartwig was the first true freshman to start on a Purdue offensive line since 2007.
Williams' line blocked for an offense that averaged 393.2 yards of total offense per game in 2019. Senior Matt McCann started all 12 games for the Boilermakers and was named honorable mention by the conference's media and coaches at the end of the year. Hermanns started all 12 games in 2019.
In 2018, Williams’ line anchored an offense that averaged 443.9 yards of total offense per game, including 307.5 passing yards, both the sixth-highest marks in school history. Senior center Kirk Barron and junior tackle McCann were named honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Williams’ line blocked for an offense that averaged 403.1 yards of total offense per game in 2017 (251.5 passing and 151.5 rushing). Barron and tackle David Steinmetz earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Williams came to Purdue after spending the 2016 season as the offensive line coach at Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers averaged 45.5 points, 336.8 passing yards and 523.1 total yards per game. Williams’ line allowed merely 22 sacks on 471 passing attempts (one every 21.4 attempts). Offensive tackle Forrest Lamp, a two-time First Team All-Conference USA selection, was named a Third Team All-American. Center Max Halpin also earned first-team all-conference honors.
Previously, Williams coached at Florida Atlantic, Findlay, Gardner-Webb, North Greenville College and West Virginia.
At FAU, the Owls won the 2007 Sun Belt championship, 2007 New Orleans Bowl (the school’s first-ever bowl appearance) and 2008 Motor City Bowl. FAU ranked 15th in the nation in total offense in 2009, averaging 432.1 yards per game. Williams’ line protected 2007 Sun Belt Player of the Year Rusty Smith and paved the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons by Charles Pierre (1,009 in 2008) and Alfred Morris (1,392 in 2009). FAU finished 13th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed in 2007 and 17th in 2008. Three of Williams’ offensive linemen - David Matlock John Rizzo and Jarrid Smith - earned All-Sun Belt accolades.
At Findlay, where he was the offensive coordinator and line coach from 2002 to 2004 and recruiting coordinator from 2000 to 2004, Williams directed an offense that finished 11th in the nation among Division II schools in rushing in 2004 (246 yards per game) and 18th in rushing (219) and 29th in total offense (405) in 2002. The 2002 team went 9-2, was ranked No. 25 in the country and allowed merely 15 sacks.
A three-year letterwinner and a member of West Virginia’s 1994 Sugar Bowl team, Williams was a two-year starter on the offensive line for the Mountaineers. He subsequently got his start in collegiate coaching as a graduate assistant with the Mountaineers.
A native of Cleveland, Williams (born Dec. 4, 1970) earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in 1994 and a master’s degree in athletic coaching in 1996. He and his wife, Wendi, have two children, Nicole and Dominick.
Williams’ offensive line helped the Purdue offense break several records in 2021. The line’s protection helped Boilermaker quarterbacks set program season-bests for passing yards (4,620), completions (407), completion percentage (.708) and passing first downs (221). The passing game averaged 355.4 yards per game, another school record, ranking second in the conference and fifth nationally. For their performance, the trio of Gus Hartwig, Greg Long and Tyler Witt were named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
In 2020, Williams' group helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 390.5 yards of total offense and Big Ten-best 309.0 yards passing per game. Hartwig, Long, Grant Hermanns and Spencer Holstege all earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades. Hartwig was the first true freshman to start on a Purdue offensive line since 2007.
Williams' line blocked for an offense that averaged 393.2 yards of total offense per game in 2019. Senior Matt McCann started all 12 games for the Boilermakers and was named honorable mention by the conference's media and coaches at the end of the year. Hermanns started all 12 games in 2019.
In 2018, Williams’ line anchored an offense that averaged 443.9 yards of total offense per game, including 307.5 passing yards, both the sixth-highest marks in school history. Senior center Kirk Barron and junior tackle McCann were named honorable mention All-Big Ten.
Williams’ line blocked for an offense that averaged 403.1 yards of total offense per game in 2017 (251.5 passing and 151.5 rushing). Barron and tackle David Steinmetz earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition.
Williams came to Purdue after spending the 2016 season as the offensive line coach at Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers averaged 45.5 points, 336.8 passing yards and 523.1 total yards per game. Williams’ line allowed merely 22 sacks on 471 passing attempts (one every 21.4 attempts). Offensive tackle Forrest Lamp, a two-time First Team All-Conference USA selection, was named a Third Team All-American. Center Max Halpin also earned first-team all-conference honors.
Previously, Williams coached at Florida Atlantic, Findlay, Gardner-Webb, North Greenville College and West Virginia.
At FAU, the Owls won the 2007 Sun Belt championship, 2007 New Orleans Bowl (the school’s first-ever bowl appearance) and 2008 Motor City Bowl. FAU ranked 15th in the nation in total offense in 2009, averaging 432.1 yards per game. Williams’ line protected 2007 Sun Belt Player of the Year Rusty Smith and paved the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons by Charles Pierre (1,009 in 2008) and Alfred Morris (1,392 in 2009). FAU finished 13th in the nation in fewest sacks allowed in 2007 and 17th in 2008. Three of Williams’ offensive linemen - David Matlock John Rizzo and Jarrid Smith - earned All-Sun Belt accolades.
At Findlay, where he was the offensive coordinator and line coach from 2002 to 2004 and recruiting coordinator from 2000 to 2004, Williams directed an offense that finished 11th in the nation among Division II schools in rushing in 2004 (246 yards per game) and 18th in rushing (219) and 29th in total offense (405) in 2002. The 2002 team went 9-2, was ranked No. 25 in the country and allowed merely 15 sacks.
A three-year letterwinner and a member of West Virginia’s 1994 Sugar Bowl team, Williams was a two-year starter on the offensive line for the Mountaineers. He subsequently got his start in collegiate coaching as a graduate assistant with the Mountaineers.
A native of Cleveland, Williams (born Dec. 4, 1970) earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in 1994 and a master’s degree in athletic coaching in 1996. He and his wife, Wendi, have two children, Nicole and Dominick.