In the world of collegiate athletics, where wins and stats often steal the spotlight, Coach James C. Williams of Voorhees University stands as a reminder of what truly matters: character, faith, and showing up—no matter the cost. As head coach of the Voorhees men’s basketball team, a role he embraces at this historically Black institution in Denmark, South Carolina, Coach Williams is building more than athletes—he’s shaping men.
Williams’ leadership is rooted in CHOICES™, a personal code that stands for Communication, Hard work, Organization, Integrity, Commitment, Excitement, and Service. These aren’t just principles he shares in the locker room—they’re the way he lives his life, on and off the court. They guided him through his most challenging season yet: a life-altering diagnosis of kidney failure in February 2024.
While many would have taken a step back, Coach Williams stepped up. Dialysis treatments at 3 a.m., three times a week, didn’t stop him from mentoring his players or driving four hours to see his son, Deuce, or showing up for his bonus daughter, Izzy. In December, he received a second chance through a kidney exchange program, a moment that not only restored his health but also deepened his passion for fatherhood, marriage, and the next generation.
Fatherhood, he says, reshaped his view of life. “Before being a father, it was all about me,” Williams shares. “But when Deuce was born, and again when Altimese and Izzy became part of my life, everything changed. I realized how fragile life is and how much strength it takes to love through uncertainty.”
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