'Be Part Of The Solution'
12/20/2024 08:12 PM
He got a bite in May.
Now, he has a permanent seat at the table.
Ucambre Williams was announced as the team's running backs coach and offensive line assistant heading into the 2025 season.
Previously, he served as assistant defensive coordinator at Russell County High School in Seale, Ala.
After spending the majority of his playing career with the Stamps (2016-2021), Williams is looking forward to stepping into his first coaching role at the professional stage with his former club.
"I'm very appreciative," he said. "I feel like (coaching) at the high school level, I've been able to prepare myself for the professional level of coaching and it's a blessing. I just want to thank Dave (Dickenson) for giving me the opportunity to coach at this level."
Williams has already gotten a taste of coaching for the Red and White, having attended training camp this past season as a guest coach.
The opportunity to come back and work alongside the coaches that mentored him as a player was simply the right fit for the 32-year-old.
"Me and Pat (DelMonaco), we've built a great relationship when I was a player in Calgary and we've kept in contact, even when I went to Ottawa and after I retired," he said. "I let him know that I was coaching and interested in moving up, so I did some guest coaching last year for training camp for about two weeks.
"I learned a lot from the guys, Pat, Dave, Beau (Baldwin), and the other coaches, and I felt like the opportunity was great, and when (Dave) called me (to come) back I felt like it was the right place and right time."
Although Williams is two seasons removed from his playing days, the Alabama product has kept close tabs on the CFL action.
After watching a couple disappointing seasons of Stampeder football, the former CFL West all-star, who was named the Stampeders' top offensive lineman in 2017 and started at centre in the 2018 Grey Cup, is looking forward to doing his part in getting the organization back on track in 2025.
"I'm definitely going to try to be part of the solution," said Williams. "I feel like Dave wants me to instill my voice and (share) the things that helped me be successful as a player and bring it to the locker-room."
With Dedrick Mills and Peyton Logan both slated to become free agents in February and, aside from Kylin Hill, Williams' running back room is still to be determined.
In the trenches, Bryce Bell, Rodeem Brown, Joshua Coker, Christy Nkanu and Eric Smith are locked in for next season and earlier this week tackle D'Antne Demery extended his contract with the club through 2026. Veteran centre Sean McEwen, Zack Williams and Kyle Saxelid will need to re-up with the Stamps before Feb. 11 to remain with the organization.