Having watched coaching greats like Billy Martin, Walter Alston, Bruce Bochy, and Frank Robinson, baseball enthusiasts can’t help but compare the leadership of Richard “Coach Will” Williams to a bevy of successful managers. What makes this man create diamonds out of incarcerated residents? What makes this man lead to a zero percent recidivism rate since he has taken over the helm of the prison’s oldest program? What makes this man consistently produce the most competitive sports product in San Quentin’s history? In an interview with San Quentin News, the manager of the 110-year-old San Quentin baseball program reveals his secrets.
AMC: Well, well, well, can’t say anything unusual because I see you everyday, but I will ask how is everything with San Quentin Baseball’s most successful manager ever?
COACH WILL: Everything’s going great; ramping up for the new season.
AMC: Every year, you mold 20 to 26 people with authentic leadership and real talk. How do you train players to conform to build a team?
COACH WILL: I encourage independence in the players, but I also try to get them to acknowledge the team concept, to buy-in to what’s good for the team.
AMC: Some guys call you a hard-ass malcontent and I want you to answer that claim. Are You?
COACH WILL: It’s just a rumor coming from others. People, coaches, and players don’t like to make hard decisions. Instead, they form committees to shield themselves from those decisions. Some just don’t want to make decisions and pass them on to someone else.
AMC: You have coached legends like Austin Thurman, Anthony “T-Tone” Denard, Carrington “The Natural” Russelle, and Brandon RiddleTerrell. Equally important, you helped our EOP brothers by letting them assist as equipment managers and every year, as a bleeding heart, you keep on one or two guys who have no business playing baseball. Why?
COACH WILL: I haven’t coached any legends, but some really good ballplayers, yes. And yes, if I see a guy who may not have the ability but wants to be coached and is coachable… I know they’ll come to practice everyday and just be humble and happy, that is always a nice addition to the team.
AMC: You’ve also had the transgender community and the hearing-challenged community on your teams and you don’t care what color anyone is. How did you change the racism that was prevalent when we both arrived?
COACH WILL: I did know I had [Samantha], and we just treated her like most people and how I would like to be treated. Racism will always exist, some are just better at hiding it. For me, as it relates to my team, I don’t care what you are — if you can play and bring no drama to the field, you have a chance.
AMC: You average 25 hours a week coaching baseball while also working for The Last Mile, you counsel and mentor your players. How do you find time for your programs?
COACH WILL: It doesn’t feel like that much time in when you’re doing something you love. Right now, I’m taking a break in programming because my old brain can’t remember half the stuff I’ve learned. Seriously, I have been on waiting lists like VOEG and G.R.I.P. pre-Covid and am still waiting. But I am doing Edovo late at night.
AMC: How does leading the most decorated team in the history of this country’s prison system help you prepare to go home and what will you do once the Board realizes how much you have contributed to the San Quentin community?
COACH WILL: Man, seeing first-timers come in, Team Victory and their father, son, and daughter, Team Mission is always showing love. Frank and the Barron always bring it as fixtures on our diamond. Now, the SF Giants are sponsoring us. Mike Kremer, Steve Reichardt, and Free Staff Coach K. Bhatt all have inspired and taught me virtues I thought I would never see in prison. If the Board honors me and gives me a date to go home, I will. This time I will be leaving with a wealth of friends from all the volunteers, and I hope wherever I go, I will coach youngsters to stay out of trouble.
AMC: Thanks for the chat, Coach Will.
AMC Note: I have worked under this man since my arrival in 2018.
