Mo Williams is 10th Former NBA Regular to Coach at NCAA DI Level For HBCU
New Alabama State coach Mo Williams played 13 seasons in the NBA. His teammates with seven different pro franchises included luminaries LaMarcus Aldridge, Chauncey Billups, Andrew Bogut, Caron Butler, Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Toni Kukoc, Damian Lillard, Kevin Love, Kenyon Martin, CJ McCollum, Paul Millsap, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Paul, Michael Redd, Joe Smith, J.R. Smith, Wally Szczerbiak, Keith Van Horn, Kemba Walker and Andrew Wiggins. The talent level Williams will be exposed to in the SWAC is demonstrably different as only three HBCU products (all second-rounders) were picked in an NBA draft over the previous 23 years.
Williams is far from the first former NBA regular to test his coaching acumen in the SWAC or MEAC. Ex-NBA players Butch Beard and Bob Hopkins piloted multiple HBCUs at the NCAA Division I level. Williams is probably the best pro among the following alphabetical list of individuals who played at least four seasons in the ABA or NBA before coaching NCAA DI HBCU teams:
| Former ABA/NBA Player | HBCU(s) Coached at NCAA DI Level | Summary of ABA/NBA Playing Career |
|---|---|---|
| Butch Beard | Howard University 91-94/Morgan State 02-06 | 9.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg and 1.3 spg with Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks in 1969-70 and from 1971-72 to 1978-79 |
| Juan Dixon | Coppin State 18-21 | 8.4 ppg with Washington Wizards, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons from 2202-03 through 2008-09 |
| Jerry Eaves | North Carolina A&T 04-12 | 6.7 ppg and 2.5 apg with Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings from 1982-83 through 1984-85 and 1986-87 |
| Bob Hopkins | Southern LA 85 & 86/Grambling 87-89/UMES 91 & 92 | 8.2 ppg and 5.6 rpg with Syracuse Nationals from 1956-57 through 1959-60 |
| Lindsey Hunter | Mississippi Valley State 20 & 21 | 8.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.2 spg with Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls from 1993-94 to 2009-10 |
| Aaron James | Grambling 90-95 | 10.8 ppg and 4.1 rpg with New Orleans Jazz from 1974-75 through 1978-79 |
| Clemon Johnson | Florida A&M 12-14 | 5.4 ppg and 4.6 rpg with Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Seattle SuperSonics from 1978-79 through 1987-88 |
| Gene Littles | North Carolina A&T 78 & 79 | 9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3 apg and 1.2 spg with ABA's Carolina Cougars and Kentucky Colonels from 1969-70 through 1974-75 |
| Larry Smith | Alcorn State 09-11 | 6.7 ppg and 9.2 rpg with Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs from 1980-81 through 1992-93 |
| Mo Williams | Alabama State 21 | 13.2 ppg, 2 rpg and 5 apg with Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets from 2003-04 through 2015-16 |
| Larry Wright | Grambling 00-08 | 8.2 ppg and 3.4 apg with Washington Bullets and Detroit Pistons from 1976-77 to 1981-82 |
NOTE: Tommy Green, a second-round selection in 1978 NBA draft out of Southern (La.), played one season with the New Orleans Jazz before coaching his alma mater five seasons from 1996-97 through 2000-01.