Susan Williams steps down Pace coach

Susan Williams made what was one of the toughest decisions in her life at the end of the 2006-07 school year.

Her decision was to step aside as the Head Coach of the Pace Lady Patriots after 22 years.

“It was tough on me last year,” said Williams, who leaves with a career mark of 454-169 during her coaching tenure at Pace. “I served as the head of student affairs and it was not fair to either place.

“But the decision was much easier for me knowing the program was going to be in good shape and very capable hands. I also felt it was a good time to step back since the three seniors who started with me as freshmen graduated this year as well.”

When Pace Athletic Director Robert Freeman announced Williams’ departure, he let it be known that her husband Curtis, her assistant for 22 years, would take over as the new head coach.

“I feel the program will be the same as it has always been,” said Williams. “Curtis has been a very active part of the program and I have kind of eased off the past couple of years because of my responsibilities at the school.”

Williams also felt like it was the right time for her to step aside, but doesn’t feel like she will completely disappear from softball games.

Her impact on Pace softball will last for several years as her only losing season came in 1987 when the team went 10-14 in her second year. And since then she has guided her girls to 17 of the last 20 district titles they competed for.

An even more amazing fact in 22 years is that Williams guided the Lady Patriots to seven trips to the final four, or one trip nearly every three years.

When she hoisted the state title high upon returning home to Pace, Williams knew she was done coaching, but she couldn’t say the words.

“Mr. (Frank) Lay asked me at the start of summer about me coaching again next year,” admitted Susan. “I told him that I hadn’t made up my mind just yet.

“In reality my mind was already made up, but I was not 100 percent.”

She let her decision be known to the players after her summer softball camp, and then she decided to tell her family.

“When I told the team the news it was probably the hardest thing I have ever done,” said Williams, who was an assistant under then head coach Herb Cannon. “My passions about softball and the program are very hot as it has taken away from many things, but at the same time given me many things as well.”

Now she will be pursuing her dream of becoming an administrator.

“The load was tremendous on me last year,” said Williams. “Really it was just too much for me, but I am glad to know the program will continue to be successful.”

Knowing Curtis will be the head coach and Dustin Gray will be serving as his assistant made her decision easier.

“The program was my main concern,” said Williams, who has been working on becoming an administrator in the Santa Rosa County School System. “But if I was concerned about the future of the program I would still be coaching.”

Freeman was also very pleased with Curtis Williams’ decision to take over the program.

“I feel very confident the program will be in great hands next season and we will continue to have a strong program,” said Freeman.

“Curtis is an outstanding coach and individual who has put a lot of time into the program and understands it very well.”

She even admitted to taking a long hard look at an administrative position in the school system if the team was not going to be in capable hands.

With Curtis, a pitching standout at Milton High School and a member of the Panthers Hall of Fame, there is the same philosophy.

“I was always the brains of the operation and he was the muscle,” laughed Susan, who started coaching at the age of 14. “The only difference there will be next season is one less face in the dugout.

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t go to the games, I will just try to keep my mouth shut. It wouldn’t be fair for me to step back and still try to coach.”

When it comes to the length of time it is taking her to become an administrator in the school system, Williams is not put off by it.

“Everything happens for a reason,” said Susan. “I guess it was meant for me to get a state title first and now I can focus on other things.”

The Susan Williams File

- 22 years as Pace Head Softball Coach (454-169)

- Winning Percentage: .729

- District Titles: (17) 1988-1996, 1998-2001, 2003, 2005-2007

- Regional Titles: (15) 1988-1994, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007

- Sectional Titles: (1) 1989

- Quarter Regional Champions: (4) 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001

- Sub Regional Champions: (1) 1995

- State Final Fours: (7) 1989, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007

- State Runner-up: (1) 1992

- State Titles: (1) 2007