Former NBA player and experienced coach joins Monmouth University staff
Monmouth University has named Shammond Williams as an assistant coach to its men’s basketball programme, head coach King Rice announced on Monday. The appointment draws on Williams’s lengthy playing career and more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience.
Williams brings a professional playing background that spans 16 years, including nine seasons in the NBA, alongside 13 years working in college coaching. Most recently he served as assistant coach and interim head coach at the University of Denver in the 2024–25 season, where he helped develop Summit League Freshman of the Year Sebastian Akins.
- 16 years as a professional player, nine of them in the NBA.
- 13 years of collegiate coaching experience across multiple programmes.
- Recent role at the University of Denver (assistant and interim head coach, 2024–25).
King Rice said the programme would benefit from Williams’s combined experience as a player and coach. In announcing the hire, Rice commented on Williams’s career and the qualities he would bring to the Monmouth staff.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Shammond to our staff," said Rice. "He has an outstanding playing career, playing professionally for 16 years, including nine years in the NBA, and has built a strong career since retiring from playing. He brings a wealth of knowledge from both his playing and coaching experiences, which will be a great asset to our program."
Williams expressed gratitude for the opportunity and for the existing relationship between him and Rice. The coach thanked university leadership for the chance to represent the Monmouth athletics department and described Rice as a long-standing mentor.
"I'm extremely excited to have an opportunity to work with Coach Rice and the Monmouth men's basketball staff," Williams said. "I've known Coach Rice for years and he has been a mentor, brother and resource for me throughout my whole career. He's an outstanding leader and wonderful person. I'm truly blessed to have this opportunity. I would like to also thank President Dr. Patrick F. Leahy and Athletic Director Jennifer Sansevero for an opportunity to represent Monmouth University and the Monmouth athletic department."
Williams’s collegiate coaching resume includes a number of appointments across both men’s and women’s programmes. Prior to Denver he spent three years on the Old Dominion women’s basketball staff, contributing to consecutive 20‑win seasons and back‑to‑back WNIT appearances. During that spell he helped develop defensive standouts, including the 2023 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, Kaye Clark.
Coaching stops and recognition
Williams has held roles at several universities and won recognition for his recruiting and assistant coaching work. He has been credited by outlets and organisations for his abilities both in recruitment and as an influential assistant coach.
| Role | Programme / Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Assistant / Interim head coach | University of Denver, 2024–25 |
| Assistant (women’s staff) | Old Dominion, three seasons (dates not specified) |
| Assistant coach | Western Kentucky, 2016–17 |
| Assistant coach | Tulane, 2013–16 |
| Assistant coach | Furman, 2012–13 |
Individual recognition for Williams has included being named a Top Three Recruiter in Conference USA by Sporting News in 2017 and being listed by Silver Waves Media in 2022 as one of the Most Influential Assistant Coaches in mid‑major basketball. The source material also notes Williams has coached several NBA draft picks during his time in college programmes.
For Monmouth University, the appointment represents an addition to King Rice’s staff that emphasises experience in player development, recruitment and defensive coaching — attributes that the head coach highlighted when announcing the hire. The move will be monitored by followers of the Hawk programme as the team prepares for the coming season.
While the appointment takes place at Monmouth University’s campus in West Long Branch, New Jersey, it is another example of how the Monmouth name features in sporting news on both sides of the Atlantic. Local fans of collegiate basketball and alumni of the institution will be watching closely to see how Williams’s arrival influences the team’s performance.
Background note: Williams earned a degree in Management and Industrial Relations; additional details on his student career and the precise years of all appointments were not provided in the announcement.
