Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 22

AT H L E T I C S

Transfer student pitches himself
to Laker baseball, football coaches
STORY BY MICHELE COFFILL / PHOTO BY JESS WEAL

Matt Williams was a multi-sport
athlete in high school and is among a
select group of student athletes who
have successfully played more than
one sport in college.
Yet it took a death in his family to
bring Williams back to his first
love: baseball.
Williams, who graduated in
April with a bachelor's degree
in criminal justice, transferred
to Grand Valley from Northern
Illinois University, a NCAA
Division I institution in DeKalb.
A native of Geneva, Illinois,
Williams was the quarterback
for the Huskies football team.
"I was only there to play
football. Then my grandpa
passed away, and he always
wanted me to concentrate
on baseball," Williams said.
"Baseball has always been my
No. 1 love until high school, then
the glamour of being recruited
for football got to me."
After the death of his
grandfather in 2013, Williams
asked NIU football coaches if
he could also play baseball.
They agreed and it seemed
like a great plan until a new
head football coach was hired.
Determined to find a place
where he could play both sports,
Williams joined the Lakers in

G R A ND VA LLE Y M AG AZ INE

22

SPR ING 201 7

2015 and made an immediate
impact as a wide receiver and
relief pitcher.
Laker head baseball coach
Jamie Detillion quickly moved
Williams into the role of closing
pitcher after watching him in an
initial team workout.
"Being a closer takes a
certain mentality and level of
confidence; both aspects were
evident in Matt right away,"
Detillion said.
The role was not new to
Williams, who was the closer for
his high school team in Geneva.
"It's a special privilege
knowing that your coaches trust
you to come in to get the win,"
he said.
During the 2016 season,
Williams converted 20 of 22 save
opportunities, setting a Grand
Valley single-season record
and tying a NCAA Division II
record. Through 43 innings, he
compiled a 0.84 ERA.
He throws four pitches -
fastball, slider, curveball and
changeup - and called his
fastball, which can reach 90+
mph, his best.
Last season on the football
field, Williams played in 12
games and caught 53 passes
for a team-leading 926
receiving yards.
When football ended in
December, Williams enjoyed
three weeks of rest at home and
returned to Allendale in January
ready to begin baseball practice.
He said he believes young kids
should play multiple sports,
rather than specialize in one
sport year-round.
"Playing multiple sports
helps your muscles adapt,"

he said. "I used to play three
or four sports just to have an
opportunity to compete."
Detillion said playing more
than one sport also lends
itself to an increased level of
confidence that transfers to
team leadership.
"I think, naturally, when guys
have the success in multiple
sports as Matt has, it certainly
contributes to the level of
confidence he has," he said.
"Success commands immediate
respect from younger guys in
our program, and it's easy for
them to follow his lead."

"It's a special
privilege knowing
that your coaches
trust you to come in
to get the win."
MATT WILLIAMS



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017

West Side story
Knowledge for all
Hopes and dreams for a better future
Fund honors son's memory
Athletics
Q&A
Off the Path
Research
Arts
Campus News Briefs
Alumni Giving
Alumni Profile
Alumni News Briefs
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 1
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 2
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 3
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - West Side story
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 5
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 6
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 7
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Knowledge for all
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 9
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 10
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 11
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 12
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Hopes and dreams for a better future
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 14
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 15
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Fund honors son's memory
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 17
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 18
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 19
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 20
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 21
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Athletics
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 23
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Q&A
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 25
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Off the Path
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 27
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Research
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 29
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Arts
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 31
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 32
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Campus News Briefs
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 34
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 35
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 36
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 37
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Alumni Giving
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 39
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Alumni Profile
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 41
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - Alumni News Briefs
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 43
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 44
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 45
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 46
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 47
Grand Valley Magazine Spring 2017 - 48
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSpring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineWinter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineFall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSummer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMagazineSpring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/Spring2016GVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/Winter2016GVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/2015FallGVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/Summer2015GVMagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMSpring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/GVMwinter2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/Grandvalley/GVMFall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/Grandvalley/grandvalleymagazine
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/winter2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/gvsu/GVmagazine/fall_2013
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com