Carnell ‘Cadillac’ Williams takes helm at Auburn
Fred Jeter | 11/10/2022, 6 p.m.
There is an abundance of Black players in the Southeastern Conference, but only one Black head coach.
And even he wears the “interim” tag.
Carnell “Cadillac” Williams last week became the first Black head coach at Auburn University, and the first at any of the 14 SEC schools in the past two years.
Williams was named interim head coach following the firing of Bryan Harsin. The Tigers had four remaining games when Harsin was dismissed.
Williams had been serving as Auburn’s running backs coach under Harsin.
“This gives me goosebumps,” Williams said in his introductory presser.
Known as “Cadillac” during his smooth-running college and NFL playing days, Williams is the all-time second leading rusher in Auburn history, after Bo Jackson.
Williams went on to play in the NFL with Tampa Bay and St. Louis, scoring 21 pro TDs.
The new Auburn coach will be in the national spotlight Nov. 26 when the team travels to Alabama for the Iron Bowl, among the sport’s top attractions.
Auburn’s performance that day could determine Williams’ future as its head coach. If Williams is not retained, Deion Sanders (now at Jackson State) might be a candidate.
