Matt Williams talks about relationship with Mark Kingston, South Carolina staff

South Carolina head coach Mark Kingston didn’t need much time to hire former Liberty pitching coach Matt Williams to the same position with the Gamecocks.

Kingston called Williams on Sunday, June 18, for an initial conversation about the job, which opened up after previous pitching Justin Parker departed for the same role at Mississippi State. On June 21, Williams was on a Zoom with members of the South Carolina media talking about his hopes and goals as the Gamecocks pitching coach.

“The other day, I guess it’s Sunday night, the conversation started after Justin took the job,” Williams said. “Coach Kingston had reached out to coach Jackson. They spoke and then coach Kingston reached out to me. We had a conversation and it didn’t take very long, honestly. My wife, we grew up in this state. At the end of the day, I think coming back home was something we really wanted and the opportunity here is a very good one.”

Williams arrives at South Carolina after spending the past four seasons with the Flames. Liberty made two NCAA Regional appearances in 2021 and 2022. The Flames won their division title both of those years.

Prior to his time with Liberty, Williams coached at UNC Wilmington from 2014-2018. He coached three Colonial Athletic Association Pitchers of the Year during the season.

He also worked with the San Diego Padres as an international crosschecker and then as the pitching coach of the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps during the 2019 season.

Williams began his coaching career with Juco Spartanburg Methodist, where he also played for two seasons. He was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at the school for eight seasons, helping the team to four Juco World Series.

One of his coaches during his time playing for Spartanburg Methodist was Monte Lee, who is South Carolina’s associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.

“We’ve talked a bunch on the phone,” Williams said. “Obviously, him recruiting out on the road right now and just keep me abreast of what’s going on out there. We’re in conversation. We’re probably talking about eight times a day right now. We’ve talked a lot. Our relationship goes way back. He coached me in junior college at Spartanburg Methodist when I was actually player. So our relationship’s probably 18, 20 years now. He’s a lot of fun. It’s gonna be fun to work with him and looking forward to that.”