Corliss Williamson Retires; Begins Coaching Career

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Williamson to retire, take assistant job at Arkansas Baptist College
Associated Press

Updated: September 25, 2007, 7:59 PM ET

LITTLE ROCK -- Corliss Williamson is set to retire from the NBA and become an assistant coach at Arkansas Baptist College, the school's athletic director said Tuesday.

Williamson, who led Arkansas to the 1994 national championship, has played 12 pro seasons with Sacramento, Toronto, Detroit and Philadelphia. He was on the Pistons when they won the 2004 NBA le.

Williamson averaged 9.1 points in 68 games last season with Sacramento.

A news conference was scheduled for Wednesday in North Little Rock to address Williamson's future. Charles Ripley, Arkansas Baptist's athletic director and basketball coach, is happy to welcome Williamson aboard.

"It's huge. He's already been working with our post players," Ripley said. "Being a pro, he has their utmost attention. They're just excited -- they can't wait to come work with him."

Williamson was the most outstanding player of the 1994 NCAA tournament and led the Razorbacks to the le game in 1995 as well. UCLA denied Arkansas' bid for a repeat championship.

"Every kid wants to get where he got to," Ripley said. "He's a wonderful coach. He's got great work ethic and great personality on the floor. We're just tickled to death."

Williamson also won the NBA's sixth man award for the Pistons in 2002. He missed some time late last season with a sore heel.

Arkansas Baptist revamped its athletic department recently, starting a junior college football program this year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3036363

[kingsfan]

He will definitely be missed. he had something you can't teach, heart. Good luck to him.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

He was a great guy.

[MrChug]

WOW...a career ended FAR too early with no injury or drug-related incident involved. Can anyone recall anything more tragic conforming to the aforementioned criteria?

[baseline bum]

I always thought Williamson was a very underrated part of the Pistons 2004 championship team. It was comical to watch him punish Devean George on the block all series.

[trueD]

Thanks for the info Elliottfan, was just thinking today about Corliss, where he would be come tipoff time. I'm glad he didn't sell himself for cheap to someone else.